and also create directories inside it containing a copy of the Python
interpreter, the standard library, and various supporting files.
+A common directory location for a virtual environment is ``.venv``.
+This name keeps the directory typically hidden in your shell and thus
+out of the way while giving it a name that explains why the directory
+exists. It also prevents clashing with ``.env`` environment variable
+definition files that some tooling supports.
+
Once you've created a virtual environment, you may activate it.
On Windows, run::
Running this command creates the target directory (creating any parent
directories that don't exist already) and places a ``pyvenv.cfg`` file in it
with a ``home`` key pointing to the Python installation from which the command
-was run. It also creates a ``bin`` (or ``Scripts`` on Windows) subdirectory
-containing a copy/symlink of the Python binary/binaries (as appropriate for the
-platform or arguments used at environment creation time). It also creates an
-(initially empty) ``lib/pythonX.Y/site-packages`` subdirectory
-(on Windows, this is ``Lib\site-packages``). If an existing
-directory is specified, it will be re-used.
+was run (a common name for the target directory is ``.venv``). It also creates
+a ``bin`` (or ``Scripts`` on Windows) subdirectory containing a copy/symlink
+of the Python binary/binaries (as appropriate for the platform or arguments
+used at environment creation time). It also creates an (initially empty)
+``lib/pythonX.Y/site-packages`` subdirectory (on Windows, this is
+``Lib\site-packages``). If an existing directory is specified, it will be
+re-used.
.. deprecated:: 3.6
``pyvenv`` was the recommended tool for creating virtual environments for
+-------------+-----------------+-----------------------------------------+
| Platform | Shell | Command to activate virtual environment |
+=============+=================+=========================================+
-| Posix | bash/zsh | $ source <venv>/bin/activate |
+| POSIX | bash/zsh | $ source <venv>/bin/activate |
+-------------+-----------------+-----------------------------------------+
| | fish | $ . <venv>/bin/activate.fish |
+-------------+-----------------+-----------------------------------------+
| | csh/tcsh | $ source <venv>/bin/activate.csh |
+-------------+-----------------+-----------------------------------------+
+| | PowerShell Core | $ <venv>/bin/Activate.ps1 |
++-------------+-----------------+-----------------------------------------+
| Windows | cmd.exe | C:\\> <venv>\\Scripts\\activate.bat |
+-------------+-----------------+-----------------------------------------+
| | PowerShell | PS C:\\> <venv>\\Scripts\\Activate.ps1 |
.. versionadded:: 3.4
``fish`` and ``csh`` activation scripts.
+
+.. versionadded:: 3.8
+ PowerShell activation scripts installed under POSIX for PowerShell Core
+ support.