iniconfig
brain-dead simple config-ini parsing
Decision gist · record as of 2026-08-14
Yes. iniconfig is a stable, actively maintained, zero-dependency parser ranked in the top 100 PyPI packages by download volume. It has no known vulnerabilities, uses a permissive MIT license, and requires only Python 3.10+. Install it when you need straightforward INI file parsing without the overhead of larger configuration frameworks.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 no runtime dependencies.
- Actively maintained with recent releases; last commit 2026-08-10 and latest release 2025-10-18.
License · maintenance · safety
MIT (permissive) — MIT license permits unrestricted use, modification, and distribution with minimal restrictions, making it suitable for both open-source and proprietary projects.
last release 2025-10-18 (300 days) · last repo commit 2026-08-10 · 62 stars
0 known vulnerabilities (OSV.dev, 2026-08-14) · 1,033,526,081 downloads/mo, #24 on PyPI
Alternatives
Verify before relying
import iniconfig
ini = iniconfig.IniConfig("config.ini")
value = ini['section']['key']
default = ini.get('section', 'key', 'default_value')- Whether the package handles edge cases like duplicate keys within a section or malformed ini syntax beyond what the description states.
- Performance characteristics when parsing very large INI files or files with deeply nested multi-line values.
What it is and what it does
iniconfig is a lightweight INI file parser designed for straightforward configuration file reading without extra features or automatic substitutions. It reads INI files into a dictionary-like structure where you access sections and keys using standard bracket notation or a get() method with optional defaults and transformation functions. The parser maintains the order in which sections and entries appear, supports comments with '#', allows multi-line values with or without explicit line continuations, and reports parsing errors with the line number where they occur.
The package has no runtime dependencies and installs as a single wheel. It's commonly used in projects that need simple, predictable INI parsing—particularly in test frameworks and build tools where configuration files are relatively straightforward. The API is minimal: create an IniConfig object from a file path, then access sections and keys like nested dictionaries, or use the get() method to supply defaults and apply transformation functions to values.
Use it for
- Parse test configuration files in pytest or other testing frameworks to read test settings and parameters.
- Load application settings from INI files during startup without requiring complex configuration libraries.
- Extract build or deployment parameters from INI files in CI/CD pipelines or build tools.
- Read multi-line configuration values like connection strings or certificate data from INI files.
- Process legacy configuration files in INI format when migrating or maintaining older systems.
Worth the install?
AI-flagged interpretation of the facts on this page. Verify before relying on it.
Yes.
iniconfig is a stable, actively maintained, zero-dependency parser ranked in the top 100 PyPI packages by download volume. It has no known vulnerabilities, uses a permissive MIT license, and requires only Python 3.10+. Install it when you need straightforward INI file parsing without the overhead of larger configuration frameworks.
Install
iniconfig on PyPI
Before you install
Low install friction with no runtime dependencies. Actively maintained with recent releases; last commit 2026-08-10 and latest release 2025-10-18. Supports Python 3.10 through 3.14.
Requires Python 3.10 or later.
License in practice
MIT license permits unrestricted use, modification, and distribution with minimal restrictions, making it suitable for both open-source and proprietary projects.
Quickstart
import iniconfig
ini = iniconfig.IniConfig("config.ini")
value = ini['section']['key']
default = ini.get('section', 'key', 'default_value')Verify before relying
- Whether the package handles edge cases like duplicate keys within a section or malformed ini syntax beyond what the description states.
- Performance characteristics when parsing very large INI files or files with deeply nested multi-line values.
Package facts
| License | MIT permissive |
| Python support | Supports the current Python release >=3.10 |
| Install friction | Low. Pure-Python wheel |
| Runtime dependencies | None |
| Maintenance | Actively maintained 300 days since the last release |
| Last repo commit | |
| First released | |
| Downloads | 1,033,526,081 / month, #24 on PyPI 30-day window, as of 2026-08-14 |
| Known vulnerabilities | None known OSV.dev, checked 2026-08-14 |
| Classifiers | Development Status :: 4 - BetaIntended Audience :: DevelopersOperating System :: MacOS :: MacOS XOperating System :: Microsoft :: WindowsOperating System :: POSIXProgramming Language :: Python :: 3 :: OnlyProgramming Language :: Python :: 3.10Programming Language :: Python :: 3.11Programming Language :: Python :: 3.12Programming Language :: Python :: 3.13Programming Language :: Python :: 3.14Topic :: Software Development :: LibrariesTopic :: Utilities |
Evidence: iniconfig-2.3.0-py3-none-any.whl
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See also config-formatter · INITools · commented-configparser · imperfect · ConfigArgParse · ConfigUpdater · iniparse · perky · configobj · plaster