In this article, we will cover how to check the python version in 3 ways.
Table of Contents
3 Ways to check Python Version
| Commands | Example Output |
| python3 –version or python3 -V or python3 -VV | Python 3.7.2 |
| import sys sys.version | 3.7.2 (tags/v3.7.2: 9a3ffc0492, Dec 23 2018, 23:09:28)[MSC v.1916 64 bit (AMD64)]’ |
| sys.version_info | sys.version_ info (major= 3, minor= 7, micro= 2, releaselevel= ‘final’, serial= 0) |
| import platform platform.python_version() | ‘3.7.2’ |
Check the Python 3 version with OS command
Execute the python or python3 command with the –version or -V option on the command prompt.
in some environments, the Python2.x series is assigned to python command, and the Python3.x series is assigned to python3 command.
- $ python –version
Python 2.7.15 - $ python -V
Python 2.7.15 - $ python3 –version
Python 3.7.0 - $ python3 -V
Python 3.7.0
Check the Python version with sys module
It is useful for checking which version of Python is running in an environment where multiple versions of Python are installed. Even though we thought Python3 was running, there was a case where Python2 was running, so if something goes wrong, check it once.
$ python3 -c “import sys; print(sys.version)”
3.6.8 (default, Mar 18 2021, 08:58:41)
[GCC 8.4.1 20200928 (Red Hat 8.4.1-1)]
$ python3 -c “import sys; print(sys.version_info)”
sys.version_info(major=3, minor=6, micro=8, releaselevel=’final’, serial=0)
Check the Python version with platform module
platform.python_version() returns a string major.minor.patchlevel. It is useful when we want to get the version number as a simple string.
See also: Mastering the Linux Command Line — Your Complete Free Training Guide
$ python3 -c “import platform; print(platform.python_version())”
3.6.8
$ python3 -c “import platform; print(platform.python_version_tuple())”
(‘3’, ‘6’, ‘8’)
