---
id: azure-cli-core
version: "2.89.1"
license: MIT
license_treatment: permissive
maintenance: active
---

# azure-cli-core — Microsoft Azure Command-Line Tools Core Module

License: permissive · Maintenance: active · Downloads: 6.9M/mo

## What it is and what it does

Azure CLI Core is the foundational Python library that powers Microsoft's Azure command-line interface. It provides the command framework, authentication handling, output formatting (JSON, table, TSV), and telemetry infrastructure that the Azure CLI uses to interact with Azure resources. The package includes 19 runtime dependencies covering cryptography, authentication (MSAL), HTTP requests, and Azure service management libraries.

Developers typically use this package indirectly as a dependency of the full azure-cli tool, though it can be imported directly to build custom Azure CLI extensions or integrate Azure command functionality into Python applications. The package handles argument completion, JMESPath query support, exit codes for scripting, and proxy configuration. Telemetry is enabled by default but can be disabled via configuration.

Use it for:

- Building custom Azure CLI extensions or plugins that integrate with the standard Azure CLI command framework.
- Automating Azure resource management in Python scripts using the CLI's authentication and command infrastructure.
- Creating wrapper tools or CI/CD integrations that need Azure CLI's output formatting and query capabilities.
- Developing Azure management applications that require MSAL-based authentication and Azure service interaction.
- Testing or validating Azure CLI commands programmatically within Python test suites.

## Worth the install?

AI-flagged interpretation of the facts above — verify before relying.

Provides the core Python library and CLI framework for Microsoft Azure command-line tools, handling authentication, command parsing, output formatting, and telemetry for Azure resource management.

Yes, if you are building Azure CLI extensions or integrating Azure CLI functionality into Python applications. Install the full azure-cli package instead if you simply want to use the Azure command-line tool. The core library is actively maintained, has no known vulnerabilities, uses a permissive MIT license, and supports current Python versions (3.10–3.14). Low install friction and a large dependency graph are expected for a cloud SDK framework.

## Install

pip install azure-cli-core
uv add azure-cli-core
poetry add azure-cli-core

## Installing azure-cli-core

Before you install: Low friction installation with a pure Python wheel. Active maintenance with a recent release (2 days old) and steady repository activity. Supports modern Python versions (3.10–3.14) and has 19 runtime dependencies, all standard cloud and security libraries.

License in practice: MIT license (permissive) allows free use, modification, and distribution with minimal restrictions, suitable for both open-source and commercial projects.

Quickstart:

pip install azure-cli-core

from azure.cli.core import CLICommandsLoader
from knack import CLI

cli = CLI(cli_ctx=CLICommandsLoader())

Requires Python 3.10 or later; intended for use as a framework component rather than direct end-user installation (most users install the full azure-cli package instead).

Verify before relying:

- Whether this package is meant for direct installation or primarily as a dependency of azure-cli.
- Specific telemetry data collection scope and opt-out mechanisms beyond the 'az config set core.collect_telemetry=no' command mentioned.
- Performance characteristics and scalability limits for large-scale automation or concurrent command execution.

## Package facts

- License: MIT (permissive)
- Python support: supports_current
- Install friction: low
- Maintenance: active
- Downloads: 6.9M/month (top 5,000 on PyPI)
- Known vulnerabilities: none known

## Tags

azure cli core library, azure command line tools, azure authentication python, azure resource management cli, azure cli framework, azure command parsing, azure telemetry sdk, azure-cloud, cli-framework, cloud-sdk

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