Updated: April 07, 2025

.PY File Extension

There is only one filetype that uses .PY file extension and it is Python Code File.

Python Code File

File category:	Developer Files
Developer:	Python Software Foundation
Open with:	Vim (+10 more)
Platforms:	Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android, ChromeOS, iPadOS

A .PY file is a script or program written in the Python programming language. Python is an interpreted, object-oriented programming language known for its readability and simplicity. The ".py" extension identifies files that contain Python code.

Python was created by Guido van Rossum in the late 1980s. The language has evolved through several major versions:

Python 2.0 was released in 2000
Python 3.0 was released in 2008

Python 3 introduced significant changes that weren't backward-compatible with Python 2, leading to a long transition period where both versions were widely used. Today, Python 3 is the standard, as Python 2 reached end-of-life in January 2020.

How Python Files Are Used

Python files are used for a wide variety of applications:

Web development (using frameworks like Django, Flask)
Scientific computing and data analysis
Artificial intelligence and machine learning
Systems administration and automation
Desktop applications
Game development
Internet of Things (IoT) projects

How to Open .PY as Python Code File

Python files are plain text files, which means they can be opened and edited with any text editor. However, specialized tools provide better functionality:

Code Editors/IDEs:
- PyCharm (specialized Python IDE)
- Visual Studio Code
- Sublime Text
- Notepad++
- IDLE (Python's built-in editor)
Online Options:
- Online Python Editors and IDEs (accessible through web browsers)
- Replit
- Google Colab (particularly for data science)

Running Python Files

To execute a Python file, you need the Python interpreter installed on your system. Common methods to run a .PY file:

Command Line: Open a terminal/command prompt and type:
```
python filename.py
```
or for Python 3 specifically:
```
python3 filename.py
```
From an IDE: Most Python IDEs have a "Run" button or keyboard shortcut
File Explorer: On some systems, double-clicking a .py file will execute it (if Python is properly installed)

How to Convert an PY File

Python files can be converted to several formats depending on your needs:

Executable Files (.exe): Tools like PyInstaller, cx_Freeze, or py2exe can convert Python scripts into standalone executables for Windows.
Compiled Python Files (.pyc): Python automatically compiles .py files into bytecode (.pyc) for faster loading. This happens automatically when you import a module.
Jupyter Notebooks (.ipynb): Python code can be written in and converted to/from Jupyter notebooks, which combine code with rich text and visualizations.
HTML/Documentation: Tools like Sphinx can generate HTML documentation from Python files with proper docstrings.
Other Languages: While not a direct conversion, tools exist to translate Python code to other languages like JavaScript (e.g., Transcrypt) or C (Cython) for specific use cases.