---
id: blake3
version: "1.0.9"
license: CC0-1.0 OR Apache-2.0
license_treatment: permissive
maintenance: active
---

# blake3 — Python bindings for the Rust blake3 crate

License: permissive · Maintenance: active · Downloads: 20.9M/mo

## What it is and what it does

blake3 is a Python wrapper around the official Rust implementation of BLAKE3, a modern cryptographic hash function. It provides a hashlib-compatible API while exposing BLAKE3-specific features like keyed hashing (message authentication), key derivation with context strings, and variable-length output. The package supports both incremental hashing (feeding data in chunks) and batch hashing, with optional multithreading for large inputs and memory-mapped file hashing.

The bindings are built with PyO3 and distributed as compiled wheels for most Python versions and platforms, so installation typically does not require a Rust compiler. It depends only on typing-extensions at runtime. The package is actively maintained, carries no known security vulnerabilities, and is licensed permissively under CC0-1.0 or Apache-2.0.

Use it for:

- Computing fast cryptographic hashes for file integrity checks and deduplication systems.
- Implementing message authentication codes using keyed hashing mode with a shared secret.
- Deriving application-specific keys from master key material using the key derivation mode.
- Hashing large files or datasets with automatic multithreading for improved throughput.
- Building content-addressable storage systems that require variable-length hash outputs.

## Worth the install?

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

Python bindings for the BLAKE3 cryptographic hash function, exposing the official Rust implementation with support for keyed hashing, key derivation, extendable output, and multithreaded hashing.

Yes. blake3 is a well-maintained, actively developed cryptographic library with no known vulnerabilities, permissive licensing, and broad platform support via precompiled wheels. Install it if you need modern hashing with keyed or key-derivation modes; the medium install friction is acceptable for most environments since binary wheels are available. Not necessary if standard hashing suffices.

## Install

pip install blake3
uv add blake3
poetry add blake3

## Installing blake3

Before you install: Medium install friction due to compiled Rust bindings, but binary wheels are available for most environments. Active maintenance with recent releases; no known vulnerabilities.

License in practice: Dual-licensed under CC0-1.0 or Apache-2.0, both permissive. You may use, modify, and distribute freely under either license with minimal restrictions.

Quickstart:

pip install blake3

from blake3 import blake3

hash_digest = blake3(b"foobarbaz").digest()
hasher = blake3()
hasher.update(b"foo")
hasher.update(b"bar")
print(hasher.hexdigest())

Requires Python 3.8 or later. If a binary wheel is unavailable for your platform, you will need the Rust toolchain installed to build from source.

Verify before relying:

- Performance characteristics and throughput compared to other hashing libraries in typical workloads.
- Specific multithreading performance thresholds and platform-specific behavior beyond the ~1 MB guidance mentioned.
- Compatibility and interoperability with other BLAKE3 implementations across different languages.

## Package facts

- License: CC0-1.0 OR Apache-2.0 (permissive)
- Python support: supports_current
- Install friction: medium
- Maintenance: active
- Downloads: 20.9M/month (top 5,000 on PyPI)
- Known vulnerabilities: none known

## Tags

blake3 hash function, cryptographic hashing python, fast hash algorithm, keyed hashing, key derivation, multithreaded hashing, extendable output hash, cryptography, hashing, rust-bindings

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