---
id: cirq-google
version: "1.7.0"
license: Apache-2.0
license_treatment: permissive
maintenance: active
---

# cirq-google — The Cirq module that provides tools and access to the Google Quantum Computing Service

License: permissive · Maintenance: active · Downloads: 173.0K/mo

## What it is and what it does

Cirq-google is the integration layer between Cirq (a quantum circuit framework) and Google's Quantum Computing Service. It extends Cirq with Google-specific tools for accessing quantum hardware, calibrating devices, and characterizing their behavior—essential for working with noisy intermediate-scale quantum (NISQ) computers where hardware details significantly affect results.

The package is designed for researchers and developers building quantum algorithms and applications that target Google's quantum processors. It handles the complexity of translating abstract quantum circuits into hardware-specific instructions and provides calibration utilities to optimize performance on real quantum devices. Installation automatically brings in cirq-core and supporting dependencies like protobuf and google-api-core for service communication.

Use it for:

- Run quantum circuits on Google's quantum processors through the Quantum Computing Service API
- Calibrate and characterize Google quantum hardware to understand device-specific noise and errors
- Develop and test quantum algorithms targeting NISQ devices with hardware-aware optimizations
- Access Google's quantum simulators for circuit validation before hardware execution

## Worth the install?

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

Provides access to Google's Quantum Computing Service and tools for calibration and characterization of Google quantum hardware, built on top of Cirq for writing and running quantum circuits.

Yes, if you need to work with Google's quantum hardware or simulators. The package is actively maintained, production-stable, has low install friction, and carries a permissive license. It's the official integration point for Google quantum access within the Cirq ecosystem. Not necessary if you only use Cirq for general quantum circuit work without Google-specific hardware access.

## Install

pip install cirq-google
uv add cirq-google
poetry add cirq-google

## Installing cirq-google

Before you install: Low install friction with a pure-wheel distribution. Actively maintained with a recent release and ongoing commits; the project is in production/stable status with 5046 repository stars.

License in practice: Licensed under Apache-2.0 (permissive), allowing commercial and private use with minimal restrictions beyond attribution and liability disclaimers.

Quickstart:

pip install cirq-google

import cirq_google

# Access Google Quantum Computing Service
engine = cirq_google.Engine(project_id='your-project')

Requires Python 3.11 or later. Google Cloud credentials and a valid project ID are needed to access the Quantum Computing Service.

Verify before relying:

- Specific quantum hardware devices supported and their current availability
- Authentication and quota requirements for the Google Quantum Computing Service
- Performance characteristics and simulation limits for circuit execution

## Package facts

- License: Apache-2.0 (permissive)
- Python support: supports_current
- Install friction: low
- Maintenance: active
- Downloads: 173.0K/month (top 15,000 on PyPI)
- Known vulnerabilities: none known

## Tags

google quantum computing service, quantum circuit google hardware, cirq google integration, quantum device calibration, nisq quantum programming, quantum-computing, google-cloud, hardware-access

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