importlib-metadata
Read metadata from Python packages
Decision gist · record as of 2026-08-14
Yes. This is a stable, actively maintained library in the top 100 PyPI packages with zero known vulnerabilities. If you need to access package metadata in Python code, install it. The single lightweight dependency and permissive license make it a low-risk addition.AI-flagged interpretation of the facts on this page — verify before relying
Before you install
- Requires Python 3.10 or later
- Low install friction with a single runtime dependency (zipp).
- Actively maintained with recent commits; last release 147 days ago.
License · maintenance · safety
Apache-2.0 (permissive) — Apache-2.0 permissive license allows use in most commercial and open-source projects with minimal restrictions.
last release 2026-03-20 (147 days) · last repo commit 2026-07-16 · 141 stars
0 known vulnerabilities (OSV.dev, 2026-08-14) · 544,435,691 downloads/mo, #70 on PyPI
Alternatives
Verify before relying
pip install importlib-metadata
import importlib.metadata
version = importlib.metadata.version('package-name')
entry_points = importlib.metadata.entry_points()- Whether the package supports custom finder implementations beyond PyPA tools as documented
- Performance characteristics when querying metadata for packages with many entry points
What it is and what it does
importlib-metadata is a backport library that exposes Python's package metadata functionality to older Python versions. It mirrors the standard library's importlib.metadata module, allowing you to read and inspect metadata from installed packages—such as version numbers, entry points, dependencies, and other distribution information. The library is maintained by the Python core team and regularly incorporates new features into the standard library after proving them in this third-party release.
The package is designed primarily for third-party packages installed via PyPA-compatible tools. It does not support packages in the standard library or packages installed without metadata. With a single lightweight dependency (zipp) and support for Python 3.10 and later, it integrates easily into tools and libraries that need to query package information at runtime.
Use it for
- Build tools and package managers that need to read version strings and entry points from installed packages
- CLI applications that discover and load plugins via package entry points
- Development utilities that inspect installed package dependencies and metadata at runtime
- Testing frameworks that need to identify and load test plugins from installed packages
- Documentation generators that extract package version and author information programmatically
Worth the install?
AI-flagged interpretation of the facts on this page. Verify before relying on it.
Yes.
This is a stable, actively maintained library in the top 100 PyPI packages with zero known vulnerabilities. If you need to access package metadata in Python code, install it. The single lightweight dependency and permissive license make it a low-risk addition.
Install
importlib-metadata on PyPI
Before you install
Low install friction with a single runtime dependency (zipp). Actively maintained with recent commits; last release 147 days ago. Stable production status.
Requires Python 3.10 or later
License in practice
Apache-2.0 permissive license allows use in most commercial and open-source projects with minimal restrictions.
Quickstart
pip install importlib-metadata
import importlib.metadata
version = importlib.metadata.version('package-name')
entry_points = importlib.metadata.entry_points()Verify before relying
- Whether the package supports custom finder implementations beyond PyPA tools as documented
- Performance characteristics when querying metadata for packages with many entry points
Package facts
| License | Apache-2.0 permissive |
| Python support | Supports the current Python release >=3.10 |
| Install friction | Low. Pure-Python wheel |
| Runtime dependencies | 1 packagezipp |
| Maintenance | Actively maintained 147 days since the last release |
| Last repo commit | |
| First released | |
| Downloads | 544,435,691 / month, #70 on PyPI 30-day window, as of 2026-08-14 |
| Known vulnerabilities | None known OSV.dev, checked 2026-08-14 |
| Classifiers | Development Status :: 5 - Production/StableIntended Audience :: DevelopersProgramming Language :: Python :: 3Programming Language :: Python :: 3 :: Only |
Evidence: importlib_metadata-9.0.0-py3-none-any.whl
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