pybind11
Seamless operability between C++11 and Python
Decision gist · record as of 2026-08-14
Yes. pybind11 is production-stable, actively maintained, widely adopted, and has zero known vulnerabilities. Install it when you need to create Python bindings for C++ code or wrap existing C++ libraries. It is a build-time dependency, not a runtime one, so it adds no overhead to deployed applications. The permissive BSD-3-Clause license poses no restrictions for most use cases.AI-flagged interpretation of the facts on this page — verify before relying
Before you install
- Requires a C++11-compatible compiler and Python development headers; used as a build-time dependency in extension modules rather than imported directly at runtime.
- Installation is straightforward with no runtime dependencies.
- The package is actively maintained with a recent release and has strong community adoption with 17991 GitHub stars.
License · maintenance · safety
BSD-3-Clause (permissive) — BSD-3-Clause is a permissive license allowing commercial and private use with minimal restrictions; you must include the license text in distributions.
last release 2026-08-06 (8 days) · last repo commit 2026-08-12 · 17,991 stars
0 known vulnerabilities (OSV.dev, 2026-08-14) · 29,672,883 downloads/mo, #810 on PyPI
Alternatives
Verify before relying
pip install pybind11==3.1.0
# In a C++ source file:
#include <pybind11/pybind11.h>
PYBIND11_MODULE(mymodule, m) {
m.def("add", [](int a, int b) { return a + b; });
}- Whether NumPy 2 compatibility requires pybind11 2.12+ as stated in the description.
- Performance characteristics and binary size reduction claims relative to Boost.Python in real-world projects.
- Specific compiler and platform combinations beyond those listed in the GitHub Actions test matrix.
What it is and what it does
pybind11 is a lightweight header-only library designed to bridge C++ and Python by automatically generating Python bindings for C++ code. It works by exposing C++ types, functions, classes, and standard library containers to Python with minimal boilerplate, using compile-time introspection to infer type information. The library supports modern C++11 features like lambda functions, move semantics, and variadic templates, making binding code simpler than older approaches like Boost.Python.
Typically used as a build-time dependency in projects that need to wrap existing C++ libraries or accelerate performance-critical Python code by implementing hot paths in C++. It requires Python 3.9 or later (CPython, PyPy, or GraalPy) and a C++11-compatible compiler, but has no runtime dependencies. The library handles complex C++ features including custom operators, inheritance, virtual methods, smart pointers, and NumPy array integration, making it suitable for scientific computing, data processing, and systems programming where C++ performance meets Python usability.
Use it for
- Wrap existing C++ libraries to make them callable from Python without rewriting in Python.
- Accelerate performance-critical sections of Python applications by implementing them in C++.
- Create Python interfaces for C++ numerical libraries and integrate them with NumPy arrays.
- Build Python extensions for real-time systems, game engines, or low-level hardware control.
- Expose C++ class hierarchies and virtual methods to Python for object-oriented interoperability.
Worth the install?
AI-flagged interpretation of the facts on this page. Verify before relying on it.
Yes.
pybind11 is production-stable, actively maintained, widely adopted, and has zero known vulnerabilities. Install it when you need to create Python bindings for C++ code or wrap existing C++ libraries. It is a build-time dependency, not a runtime one, so it adds no overhead to deployed applications. The permissive BSD-3-Clause license poses no restrictions for most use cases.
Install
pybind11 on PyPI
Before you install
Installation is straightforward with no runtime dependencies. The package is actively maintained with a recent release and has strong community adoption with 17991 GitHub stars.
Requires a C++11-compatible compiler and Python development headers; used as a build-time dependency in extension modules rather than imported directly at runtime.
License in practice
BSD-3-Clause is a permissive license allowing commercial and private use with minimal restrictions; you must include the license text in distributions.
Quickstart
pip install pybind11==3.1.0
# In a C++ source file:
#include <pybind11/pybind11.h>
PYBIND11_MODULE(mymodule, m) {
m.def("add", [](int a, int b) { return a + b; });
}Verify before relying
- Whether NumPy 2 compatibility requires pybind11 2.12+ as stated in the description.
- Performance characteristics and binary size reduction claims relative to Boost.Python in real-world projects.
- Specific compiler and platform combinations beyond those listed in the GitHub Actions test matrix.
Package facts
| License | BSD-3-Clause permissive |
| Python support | Supports the current Python release >=3.9 |
| Install friction | Low. Pure-Python wheel |
| Runtime dependencies | None |
| Maintenance | Actively maintained 8 days since the last release |
| Last repo commit | |
| First released | |
| Downloads | 29,672,883 / month, #810 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 :: C++Programming 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 :: 3.15Programming Language :: Python :: 3.9Programming Language :: Python :: Implementation :: CPythonProgramming Language :: Python :: Implementation :: PyPyTopic :: Software Development :: Libraries :: Python ModulesTopic :: Utilities |
Evidence: pybind11-3.1.0-py3-none-any.whl
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