ipaddress
IPv4/IPv6 manipulation library
Decision gist · record as of 2026-08-14
No, unless you are maintaining legacy Python 2.6, 2.7, or 3.2 code that requires ipaddress. The package is abandoned and modern Python includes ipaddress in the standard library. If you are on Python 3.3+, use the standard library instead. If you must support Python 2, this is the only option, but consider upgrading your runtime.AI-flagged interpretation of the facts on this page — verify before relying
Before you install
- Must pass unicode strings (u'...') or use `from __future__ import unicode_literals`; byte strings will raise AddressValueError.
- Only needed for Python 2.6, 2.7, or 3.2.
- Install friction is low.
License · maintenance · safety
permissive license (permissive) — Licensed under the Python Software Foundation License (permissive). No restrictions on use, modification, or distribution in most contexts.
last release 2019-10-18 (2492 days) · last repo commit 2020-11-20 · 111 stars
0 known vulnerabilities (OSV.dev, 2026-08-14) · 6,142,720 downloads/mo, #1,964 on PyPI
Alternatives
Verify before relying
pip install ipaddress==1.0.23
import ipaddress
addr = ipaddress.ip_address(u'1.2.3.4')
net = ipaddress.ip_network(u'10.0.0.0/8')- Whether the backport tracks all fixes and features from the current CPython ipaddress module, or only up to version 3.8 as mentioned in the description.
- Full extent of API coverage compared to modern standard library ipaddress.
What it is and what it does
This package backports Python 3.3+'s ipaddress module to older Python versions (2.6, 2.7, 3.2). It provides classes and functions for creating and manipulating IPv4 and IPv6 addresses, networks, and interfaces—the same API you would use in modern Python's standard library. The main constraint is that it requires unicode strings for address input, not byte strings; passing bytes will raise an error.
The package is production-stable but abandoned; its last release was in 2019. It exists primarily as a compatibility shim for legacy codebases still running on Python 2 or early Python 3. If you are on Python 3.3 or later, use the built-in ipaddress module instead.
Use it for
- Validate and parse IPv4 or IPv6 addresses in Python 2.7 codebases that cannot yet migrate to Python 3.
- Work with IP networks and subnets in legacy applications.
- Check if an IP address belongs to a given network range on older Python versions.
- Normalize and manipulate IP address objects with a consistent API across Python 2 and 3.2.
Worth the install?
AI-flagged interpretation of the facts on this page. Verify before relying on it.
No, unless you are maintaining legacy Python 2.6, 2.7, or 3.2 code that requires ipaddress.
The package is abandoned and modern Python includes ipaddress in the standard library. If you are on Python 3.3+, use the standard library instead. If you must support Python 2, this is the only option, but consider upgrading your runtime.
Install
ipaddress on PyPI
Before you install
Install friction is low. However, the package is abandoned—last release was 2019-10-18, with no commits since 2020-11-20. Only install if you are stuck on Python 2.6, 2.7, or 3.2; modern Python versions include ipaddress in the standard library.
Must pass unicode strings (u'...') or use `from __future__ import unicode_literals`; byte strings will raise AddressValueError. Only needed for Python 2.6, 2.7, or 3.2.
License in practice
Licensed under the Python Software Foundation License (permissive). No restrictions on use, modification, or distribution in most contexts.
Quickstart
pip install ipaddress==1.0.23
import ipaddress
addr = ipaddress.ip_address(u'1.2.3.4')
net = ipaddress.ip_network(u'10.0.0.0/8')Verify before relying
- Whether the backport tracks all fixes and features from the current CPython ipaddress module, or only up to version 3.8 as mentioned in the description.
- Full extent of API coverage compared to modern standard library ipaddress.
Package facts
| License | permissive license permissive |
| Python support | Not specified |
| Install friction | Low. Pure-Python wheel |
| Runtime dependencies | None |
| Maintenance | Abandoned 2,492 days since the last release |
| Last repo commit | |
| First released | |
| Downloads | 6,142,720 / month, #1,964 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 :: DevelopersLicense :: OSI Approved :: Python Software Foundation LicenseNatural Language :: EnglishProgramming Language :: PythonProgramming Language :: Python :: 2.6Programming Language :: Python :: 2.7Programming Language :: Python :: 3.2Programming Language :: Python :: 3.3Programming Language :: Python :: 3.4Programming Language :: Python :: 3.5Programming Language :: Python :: 3.6 |
Evidence: ipaddress-1.0.23-py2.py3-none-any.whl
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See also ipaddr · netaddr · IPy · isc-dhcp-leases · iptools · python-hosts · backports.ssl_match_hostname · multiaddr · django-netfields · IP2Location