How to Install requirements.txt in Python Projects

If you've ever cloned a Python project from GitHub or received someone else's code, you've almost certainly encountered a file called requirements.txt. Understanding what it does — and how to use it correctly — is one of the most practical skills in Python-based web development.

What Is requirements.txt?

A requirements.txt file is a plain text list of Python packages a project depends on. Each line typically names a package, often with a specific version number pinned to it. For example:

When you install from this file, pip (Python's package installer) reads each line and installs the listed packages into your current Python environment. It's the standard way Python developers share dependency information across machines, teams, and deployment pipelines.

The Basic Installation Command

The core command is straightforward: