---
id: pyfiglet
version: "1.0.4"
license: MIT
license_treatment: permissive
maintenance: active
---

# pyfiglet — Pure-python FIGlet implementation

License: permissive · Maintenance: active · Downloads: 6.7M/mo

## What it is and what it does

pyfiglet is a pure-Python port of the classic FIGlet command-line tool that converts ASCII text into ASCII art using stylized fonts. It supports kerning and smushing (character overlap) to produce output identical to the original C implementation. The package includes a collection of fonts and can be used either as a standalone command-line utility or embedded in Python code as a library.

The main use case is generating decorative ASCII art text for terminal output, documentation headers, or console-based applications. It has no external runtime dependencies, making it lightweight and easy to integrate. The package is actively maintained, supports Python 3.7 through 3.11, and has been in development since 2012.

Use it for:

- Generate decorative ASCII art headers for terminal applications or logs.
- Create stylized text banners for CLI tools and command-line interfaces.
- Embed ASCII art rendering in Python scripts without calling external programs.
- Add visual text effects to documentation or README files.
- Build ASCII art generators or text-art display utilities.

## Worth the install?

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

Renders ASCII text as ASCII art using a variety of fonts, available both as a command-line tool and a Python library.

Yes. pyfiglet is a lightweight, zero-dependency library with active maintenance, no known vulnerabilities, and permissive licensing. Install it if you need ASCII art text rendering in Python or at the command line; the low friction and stable API make it a straightforward addition to any project.

## Install

pip install pyfiglet
uv add pyfiglet
poetry add pyfiglet

## Installing pyfiglet

Before you install: Low friction: pure Python wheel with no runtime dependencies. Actively maintained with recent release (364 days ago) and 1580 repository stars.

License in practice: MIT license (permissive) allows use, modification, and redistribution with minimal restrictions.

Quickstart:

pip install pyfiglet

from pyfiglet import Figlet
f = Figlet(font='slant')
print(f.renderText('Hello'))

Requires Python 3.9 or later.

Verify before relying:

- Whether all included fonts have confirmed redistribution rights or if some remain in legal gray area as described in the FAQ.
- Performance characteristics when rendering very large text or with complex fonts.

## Package facts

- License: MIT (permissive)
- Python support: supports_current
- Install friction: low
- Maintenance: active
- Downloads: 6.7M/month (top 5,000 on PyPI)
- Known vulnerabilities: none known

## Tags

ascii art text rendering, figlet python port, text to ascii art, ascii font rendering, console text art, figlet library python, ascii art fonts, ascii-art, cli-utility, text-rendering

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