psycopg2
psycopg2 - Python-PostgreSQL Database Adapter
Decision gist · record as of 2026-08-14
Yes, for production PostgreSQL applications. Psycopg2 is the de facto standard adapter, actively maintained, has no known vulnerabilities, and is proven across millions of deployments. Install friction is moderate (C compilation) but manageable via pre-built wheels. If starting a new project, evaluate Psycopg 3 first, but Psycopg2 remains a solid, low-risk choice for existing codebases or when stability is paramount.AI-flagged interpretation of the facts on this page — verify before relying
Before you install
- Requires a C compiler and PostgreSQL development libraries to build from source; pre-built wheels are available for Windows and common Python versions.
- Alternatively, install psycopg2-binary for a pre-compiled option.
- Medium install friction due to C compilation requirements; the package is actively maintained with recent releases and no known vulnerabilities.
License · maintenance · safety
LGPL with exceptions (copyleft) — Licensed under LGPL with exceptions (copyleft). You may use and modify the package freely, but any derivative works must also be distributed under compatible terms. Proprietary applications can typically link to it, but review the specific exceptions and your use case.
last release 2026-04-20 (116 days) · last repo commit 2026-05-02 · 3,652 stars
0 known vulnerabilities (OSV.dev, 2026-08-14) · 59,190,867 downloads/mo, #511 on PyPI
Alternatives
Verify before relying
pip install psycopg2
import psycopg2
conn = psycopg2.connect('dbname=test user=postgres')
cur = conn.cursor()
cur.execute('SELECT version()')
print(cur.fetchone())- Whether the package's C implementation and libpq wrapper remain performant for your workload's concurrency and throughput requirements.
- Compatibility of your PostgreSQL server version with the libpq version bundled or linked during installation.
- Performance characteristics for applications creating and destroying many cursors or performing large numbers of concurrent operations.
What it is and what it does
Psycopg2 is a mature PostgreSQL adapter that bridges Python and PostgreSQL databases. It implements the Python DB API 2.0 specification and is built primarily in C as a wrapper around libpq, the PostgreSQL client library. The package is designed for multi-threaded applications and supports thread-safe connection sharing, client-side and server-side cursors, asynchronous communication, and PostgreSQL-specific features like COPY operations. It handles many Python types out of the box and adapts them to matching PostgreSQL data types; the adaptation system is extensible for custom types.
The package is actively maintained and widely used in production, though the documentation notes that new feature development has shifted to Psycopg 3. Psycopg2 remains a stable, production-ready choice for applications already using it or for projects prioritizing compatibility and maturity over cutting-edge features. Installation requires a C compiler and development libraries on most platforms, though pre-built wheels simplify setup on Windows and other common environments.
Use it for
- Building web applications that need reliable PostgreSQL database connections with concurrent query execution.
- Multi-threaded data processing pipelines that create and destroy many cursors and perform bulk INSERT or UPDATE operations.
- ETL workflows using COPY TO/COPY FROM for efficient bulk data loading and extraction from PostgreSQL.
- Legacy or mature production systems already standardized on Psycopg2 where stability and proven behavior are priorities.
- Applications requiring server-side cursors for memory-efficient handling of large result sets.
Worth the install?
AI-flagged interpretation of the facts on this page. Verify before relying on it.
Yes, for production PostgreSQL applications.
Psycopg2 is the de facto standard adapter, actively maintained, has no known vulnerabilities, and is proven across millions of deployments. Install friction is moderate (C compilation) but manageable via pre-built wheels. If starting a new project, evaluate Psycopg 3 first, but Psycopg2 remains a solid, low-risk choice for existing codebases or when stability is paramount.
Install
psycopg2 on PyPI
Before you install
Medium install friction due to C compilation requirements; the package is actively maintained with recent releases and no known vulnerabilities. Pre-built wheels are available for Windows and Python versions 3.9–3.14, reducing friction on those platforms. A binary-only alternative (psycopg2-binary) is available for development but not recommended for production.
Requires a C compiler and PostgreSQL development libraries to build from source; pre-built wheels are available for Windows and common Python versions. Alternatively, install psycopg2-binary for a pre-compiled option.
License in practice
Licensed under LGPL with exceptions (copyleft). You may use and modify the package freely, but any derivative works must also be distributed under compatible terms. Proprietary applications can typically link to it, but review the specific exceptions and your use case.
Quickstart
pip install psycopg2
import psycopg2
conn = psycopg2.connect('dbname=test user=postgres')
cur = conn.cursor()
cur.execute('SELECT version()')
print(cur.fetchone())Verify before relying
- Whether the package's C implementation and libpq wrapper remain performant for your workload's concurrency and throughput requirements.
- Compatibility of your PostgreSQL server version with the libpq version bundled or linked during installation.
- Performance characteristics for applications creating and destroying many cursors or performing large numbers of concurrent operations.
Package facts
| License | LGPL with exceptions copyleft |
| Python support | Supports the current Python release >=3.9 |
| Install friction | Medium. Platform-specific wheel |
| Runtime dependencies | None |
| Maintenance | Actively maintained 116 days since the last release |
| Last repo commit | |
| First released | |
| Downloads | 59,190,867 / month, #511 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 :: GNU Library or Lesser General Public License (LGPL)Operating System :: Microsoft :: WindowsOperating System :: UnixProgramming Language :: CProgramming Language :: PythonProgramming Language :: Python :: 3Programming Language :: Python :: 3 :: OnlyProgramming Language :: Python :: 3.10Programming Language :: Python :: 3.11Programming Language :: Python :: 3.12Programming Language :: Python :: 3.13Programming Language :: Python :: 3.14Programming Language :: Python :: 3.9Programming Language :: Python :: Implementation :: CPythonProgramming Language :: SQLTopic :: DatabaseTopic :: Database :: Front-EndsTopic :: Software DevelopmentTopic :: Software Development :: Libraries :: Python Modules |
Evidence: psycopg2-2.9.12-cp310-cp310-win_amd64.whl; psycopg2-2.9.12-cp311-cp311-win_amd64.whl; psycopg2-2.9.12-cp312-cp312-win_amd64.whl; psycopg2-2.9.12-cp313-cp313-win_amd64.whl; psycopg2-2.9.12-cp314-cp314-win_amd64.whl; psycopg2-2.9.12-cp39-cp39-win_amd64.whl
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See also pg8000 · psycopg2-binary · PyGreSQL · aws-psycopg2 · postgres · psycopg · psycopg-binary · psycopg-c · psycopg2-pool · pgdb