---
id: ppdeep
version: "20260221"
license: ASL 2.0
license_treatment: permissive
maintenance: active
---

# ppdeep — Pure-Python library for computing fuzzy hashes (ssdeep)

License: permissive · Maintenance: active · Downloads: 75.3K/mo

## What it is and what it does

ppdeep is a pure-Python implementation of fuzzy hashing (CTPH), a technique for determining whether two inputs are similar rather than identical. It provides three main functions: hash() to compute a fuzzy hash from a string, compare() to measure similarity between two hashes on a 0-100 scale, and hash_from_file() to hash file contents directly. The library has no external runtime dependencies and works across operating systems.

Fuzzy hashing is commonly used in digital forensics and malware detection to identify related files or data that may have been slightly modified. The implementation is based on SpamSum by Dr. Andrew Tridgell and follows the ssdeep algorithm, making it compatible with the fuzzy hash format produced by the popular ssdeep tool.

Use it for:

- Detect similar malware samples that have been slightly modified or repackaged.
- Identify related files in digital forensics investigations where exact matching is too strict.
- Compare document or data versions to find near-duplicates in large datasets.
- Build similarity-based deduplication systems for file storage or backup.
- Analyze suspicious files by comparing their fuzzy hashes against known malicious samples.

## Worth the install?

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

ppdeep computes fuzzy hashes (CTPH/ssdeep) to measure similarity between inputs rather than testing for exact equality, useful in digital forensics and malware detection.

Yes. ppdeep is actively maintained, has no dependencies, installs easily, carries no known vulnerabilities, and uses a permissive license. It fills a specific and legitimate need in forensics and malware analysis. Install it if you need fuzzy hashing; skip it if you only need exact-match hashing or cryptographic digests.

## Install

pip install ppdeep
uv add ppdeep
poetry add ppdeep

## Installing ppdeep

Before you install: Low install friction with no runtime dependencies. Actively maintained as of 2026-02-21 with recent commits and a small but engaged user base.

License in practice: Licensed under Apache Software License (ASL 2.0), a permissive license allowing commercial and private use with minimal restrictions.

Quickstart:

pip install ppdeep

import ppdeep
h1 = ppdeep.hash('The equivalence of mass and energy translates into the well-known E = mc²')
h2 = ppdeep.hash('The equivalence of mass and energy translates into the well-known E = MC2')
similarity = ppdeep.compare(h1, h2)  # Returns 0-100 similarity score

Verify before relying:

- Whether the package handles very large files efficiently or has memory constraints for hash_from_file().
- Performance characteristics compared to the original ssdeep tool or other fuzzy hashing implementations.

## Package facts

- License: ASL 2.0 (permissive)
- Python support: unspecified
- Install friction: low
- Maintenance: active
- Downloads: 75.3K/month (top 15,000 on PyPI)
- Known vulnerabilities: none known

## Tags

fuzzy hash computation, ssdeep implementation, similarity detection, CTPH hashing, malware similarity, forensic hashing, context triggered piecewise hash, forensics, malware-analysis, similarity-detection

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