---
id: argcomplete
version: "3.7.2"
license: Apache Software License
license_treatment: permissive
maintenance: active
---

# argcomplete — Bash tab completion for argparse

License: permissive · Maintenance: active · Popularity: top 1,000 on PyPI

## Install

pip install argcomplete
uv add argcomplete
poetry add argcomplete

## Description

argcomplete - Bash/zsh tab completion for argparse
==================================================
*Tab complete all the things!*

Argcomplete provides easy, extensible command line tab completion of arguments for your Python application.

It makes two assumptions:

* You're using bash or zsh as your shell (limited support exists for other shells - see below)
* You're using `argparse <http://docs.python.org/3/library/argparse.html>`_ to manage your command line arguments/options

Argcomplete is particularly useful if your program has lots of options or subparsers, and if your program can
dynamically suggest completions for your argument/option values (for example, if the user is browsing resources over
the network).

Installation
------------
::

    pip install argcomplete
    activate-global-python-argcomplete

See `Activating global completion`_ below for details about the second step.

Refresh your shell environment (start a new shell).

Synopsis
--------
Add the ``PYTHON_ARGCOMPLETE_OK`` marker and a call to ``argcomplete.autocomplete()`` to your Python application as
follows:

.. code-block:: python

    #!/usr/bin/env python
    # PYTHON_ARGCOMPLETE_OK
    import...

## AI interpretation — verify before relying

Provides intelligent bash and zsh tab completion for Python applications using argparse, with support for custom completers and dynamic suggestions.

Verdict: Mature, actively maintained library with zero known vulnerabilities and permissive licensing. Low install friction and broad Python version support make it a reliable choice for adding shell completion to argparse-based CLI tools. The only consideration is that shell registration is a separate manual step after installation.

[View on SkillFed](https://skillfed.io/packages/argcomplete) · [View on PyPI](https://pypi.org/project/argcomplete/)