Python is a versatile general-purpose programming language that is widely used in web development, artificial intelligence, scientific computing, data analysis, and more. If you’re using a Mac, Python may already be installed, but updating to the latest version can provide you with more features and functionality. This guide will walk you through how to install Python on a Mac.
1. Check Your Current Python Version
Firstly, you need to check whether you have Python installed and identify its version. Open your Terminal app (you can find this via Spotlight, just type Terminal in the search bar) and type the following command:
python --version
If Python is already installed, this command will return a version number. If you get a message that ‘python’ is not recognized as a command, it means Python is not installed.
2. Download Python
Go to the official Python website (https://www.python.org/) and navigate to the Downloads section. Choose the latest stable release suitable for your Mac’s operating system. The website should automatically suggest the best version for your system.
3. Install Python
Double click the downloaded .pkg file and follow the installation instructions. Default settings will usually suffice. When the installation is complete, you can confirm it by checking the version again in Terminal as explained in step 1.
4. Update PATH (if necessary)
In some cases, you might need to update your system’s PATH to include Python. This is the list of directories that Terminal looks in for executable files. You can do this by editing your .bash_profile (or .zshrc if you’re using the Zsh shell) file with a text editor of your choice.
nano ~/.bash_profile
Then, add the following line to end:
export PATH="/usr/local/bin:/usr/local/sbin:$PATH"
Remember to replace /usr/local/bin with the path where your Python binary is installed. Save and exit. To make the changes take effect, run:
source ~/.bash_profile
Now you should be able to run Python directly from your Terminal!
Conclusion
Congratulations! You have successfully installed Python on your Mac. You can now start coding or installing additional packages as per your requirements. Happy coding!