pydot

Python interface to Graphviz's Dot

pydot Permissive license MIT Active ★ 998 v4.0.1 released 2025-06-17

Install

pydot on PyPI

pip

pip install pydot

uv

uv add pydot

poetry

poetry add pydot

Package facts

License	MIT (permissive)
Python support	supports the current Python release (>=3.8)
Install friction	low — pure-Python wheel
Runtime dependencies	1 — pyparsing
Maintenance	actively maintained — 422 days since the last release
Last repo commit	2026-08-01
First released	2008-02-14
Popularity	one of the top 1,000 most-downloaded packages on PyPI (30-day window, as of 2026-08-13)
Known vulnerabilities	none known (OSV.dev, checked 2026-08-13)

Evidence: pydot-4.0.1-py3-none-any.whl

Keywords: graphviz, dot, graphs, visualization

Development Status :: 5 - Production/StableIntended Audience :: DevelopersIntended Audience :: Science/ResearchNatural Language :: EnglishOperating System :: OS IndependentProgramming Language :: Python :: 3Programming Language :: Python :: 3.10Programming Language :: Python :: 3.11Programming Language :: Python :: 3.12Programming Language :: Python :: 3.8Programming Language :: Python :: 3.9Topic :: Scientific/Engineering :: VisualizationTopic :: Software Development :: Libraries :: Python Modules

About pydot

from the package's own PyPI description — quoted content, verbatim

<!-- SPDX-FileCopyrightText: 2024 pydot contributors

SPDX-License-Identifier: MIT -->

CI (image) Coverage (image) PyPI (image) Code style: ruff (image)

Pydot

pydot is a Python interface to Graphviz and its DOT language. You can use pydot to create, read, edit, and visualize graphs.

It's made in pure Python, with only one dependency – pyparsing – other than Graphviz itself.
It's compatible with networkx, which can convert its graphs to pydot.

To see what Graphviz is capable of, check the Graphviz Gallery!

Dependencies

Python: The latest version of pydot supports Python 3.9+. It may work with Python 3.6-3.8, but we can't guarantee full support. If you're using one of these older versions,...

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AI interpretation — verify before relying

AI-generated interpretation of the package facts above; every digit, version, license, or vulnerability id it cites is grounded in the facts already shown on this page

pydot is a Python interface to Graphviz that lets you create, read, edit, and visualize graphs using the DOT language, with a single runtime dependency on pyparsing.

Low friction: pure Python wheel with only pyparsing as a runtime dependency. Active maintenance with recent releases; last commit 2026-08-01 and 998 GitHub stars signal ongoing support.

MIT license permits commercial and private use with minimal restrictions; you must include a copy of the license and copyright notice in distributions.

Usage

pip install pydot
import pydot
graph = pydot.Dot("my_graph", graph_type="graph")
graph.add_node(pydot.Node("a", label="Node A"))
graph.write_png("output.png")

Graphviz must be installed separately on your system via your package manager or from graphviz.org; pydot itself is pure Python but requires Graphviz for rendering.

Verdict: pydot is a stable, actively maintained library (Production/Stable status, 998 stars, recent commits) with minimal install friction and no known vulnerabilities. Its single dependency and permissive MIT license make it a low-risk choice for graph creation and DOT manipulation, provided you have Graphviz installed separately.

Needs verification

Whether Graphviz system dependency is pre-installed in typical development environments or requires explicit user action in most deployment scenarios.

graphviz python interfacedot language parsergraph visualization librarycreate graphs programmaticallynetworkx graph conversiondot file reader writer