A virtual environment in Python is a self-contained directory that acts as a separate and isolated Python environment. Its purpose is to manage dependencies and package installations for individual projects.
Virtual environments are utilized for two main reasons:
Dependency Management: Different projects often require different versions of Python packages. By creating a virtual environment for each project, you can ensure that the project has its isolated environment with specific package versions. This avoids conflicts between packages and allows you to work on multiple projects simultaneously without interference.
Portability: Virtual environments provide a way to share projects with others in a self-contained manner. By packaging the project along with its specific Python version and required packages within a virtual environment, you can ensure that others can reproduce the project's environment accurately, regardless of their own Python setup.
Virtual environments help maintain clean and separate Python environments, enabling efficient dependency management, and facilitating project sharing and deployment.