pygraphviz
Python interface to Graphviz
Decision gist · record as of 2026-08-14
Yes, if you need graph visualization with automatic layout. PyGraphviz is actively maintained, has no known vulnerabilities, and offers permissive licensing. The medium install friction (compiled C bindings, system Graphviz dependency) is a real but manageable hurdle; prebuilt wheels for modern Python versions ease deployment. Worth installing for network analysis, diagram generation, and scientific visualization tasks.AI-flagged interpretation of the facts on this page — verify before relying
Before you install
- Graphviz system library must be installed on your system; PyPI wheels bundle it but your environment must support the compiled C extension.
- Medium install friction due to compiled C bindings to the Graphviz library.
- Prebuilt wheels are available for Python 3.10–3.14 on macOS, Linux, and Windows, but the underlying Graphviz system library must be present.
License · maintenance · safety
BSD-3-Clause (permissive) — Released under BSD-3-Clause (permissive). Binary wheels bundle Graphviz libraries separately licensed under Eclipse Public License v2.0; review the bundled LICENSE.graphviz if that matters for your use case.
last release 2026-07-20 (25 days) · last repo commit 2026-08-03 · 844 stars
0 known vulnerabilities (OSV.dev, 2026-08-14) · 4,286,036 downloads/mo, #2,341 on PyPI
Alternatives
Verify before relying
import pygraphviz as pgv
G = pgv.AGraph()
G.add_node("a")
G.add_edge("b", "c")
print(G)- Whether Graphviz is automatically available in all wheel distributions or requires separate system installation on some platforms.
- Performance characteristics and scalability limits for large graphs.
- Compatibility with PyPy beyond the classifier listing.
What it is and what it does
PyGraphviz is a Python binding to the Graphviz graph layout and visualization toolkit. It lets you construct graphs programmatically, apply Graphviz's sophisticated layout algorithms, and render them to various formats. The package wraps Graphviz's C libraries through compiled extensions, so it requires both the Python package and the underlying Graphviz system library to function.
The API mirrors NetworkX's design, making it familiar to developers already working with network libraries. You build graphs by adding nodes and edges, then use Graphviz's algorithms to compute layouts and generate visual output. It's commonly used for network diagrams, dependency graphs, and scientific visualization where automatic layout is valuable.
Use it for
- Generate network topology diagrams and system architecture visualizations from Python data structures.
- Render dependency graphs for software projects, showing build or import relationships.
- Create scientific and mathematical graph visualizations with automatic layout algorithms.
- Build flowcharts and state diagrams programmatically from application logic.
- Export graph data to multiple formats (PNG, SVG, PDF) for reports and documentation.
Worth the install?
AI-flagged interpretation of the facts on this page. Verify before relying on it.
Yes, if you need graph visualization with automatic layout.
PyGraphviz is actively maintained, has no known vulnerabilities, and offers permissive licensing. The medium install friction (compiled C bindings, system Graphviz dependency) is a real but manageable hurdle; prebuilt wheels for modern Python versions ease deployment. Worth installing for network analysis, diagram generation, and scientific visualization tasks.
Install
pygraphviz on PyPI
Before you install
Medium install friction due to compiled C bindings to the Graphviz library. Prebuilt wheels are available for Python 3.10–3.14 on macOS, Linux, and Windows, but the underlying Graphviz system library must be present. Repository is actively maintained with recent commits.
Graphviz system library must be installed on your system; PyPI wheels bundle it but your environment must support the compiled C extension.
License in practice
Released under BSD-3-Clause (permissive). Binary wheels bundle Graphviz libraries separately licensed under Eclipse Public License v2.0; review the bundled LICENSE.graphviz if that matters for your use case.
Quickstart
import pygraphviz as pgv
G = pgv.AGraph()
G.add_node("a")
G.add_edge("b", "c")
print(G)Verify before relying
- Whether Graphviz is automatically available in all wheel distributions or requires separate system installation on some platforms.
- Performance characteristics and scalability limits for large graphs.
- Compatibility with PyPy beyond the classifier listing.
Package facts
| License | BSD-3-Clause permissive |
| Python support | Supports the current Python release >=3.10 |
| Install friction | Medium. Platform-specific wheel |
| Runtime dependencies | None |
| Maintenance | Actively maintained 25 days since the last release |
| Last repo commit | |
| First released | |
| Downloads | 4,286,036 / month, #2,341 on PyPI 30-day window, as of 2026-08-14 |
| Known vulnerabilities | None known OSV.dev, checked 2026-08-14 |
| Classifiers | Development Status :: 4 - BetaIntended Audience :: DevelopersIntended Audience :: Science/ResearchProgramming Language :: CProgramming Language :: PythonProgramming Language :: Python :: 3Programming Language :: Python :: 3.10Programming Language :: Python :: 3.11Programming Language :: Python :: 3.12Programming Language :: Python :: 3.13Programming Language :: Python :: 3.14Programming Language :: Python :: Implementation :: CPythonProgramming Language :: Python :: Implementation :: PyPyTopic :: Scientific/Engineering :: Information AnalysisTopic :: Scientific/Engineering :: MathematicsTopic :: Scientific/Engineering :: VisualizationTopic :: Software Development :: Libraries :: Python Modules |
Evidence: pygraphviz-2.0.1-cp310-cp310-macosx_11_0_arm64.whl; pygraphviz-2.0.1-cp310-cp310-macosx_11_0_x86_64.whl; pygraphviz-2.0.1-cp310-cp310-manylinux_2_28_aarch64.whl; pygraphviz-2.0.1-cp310-cp310-manylinux_2_28_x86_64.whl; pygraphviz-2.0.1-cp310-cp310-win_amd64.whl; pygraphviz-2.0.1-cp311-cp311-macosx_11_0_arm64.whl; pygraphviz-2.0.1-cp311-cp311-macosx_11_0_x86_64.whl; pygraphviz-2.0.1-cp311-cp311-manylinux_2_28_aarch64.whl; pygraphviz-2.0.1-cp311-cp311-manylinux_2_28_x86_64.whl; pygraphviz-2.0.1-cp311-cp311-win_amd64.whl; pygraphviz-2.0.1-cp312-cp312-macosx_11_0_arm64.whl; pygraphviz-2.0.1-cp312-cp312-macosx_11_0_x86_64.whl; pygraphviz-2.0.1-cp312-cp312-manylinux_2_28_aarch64.whl; pygraphviz-2.0.1-cp312-cp312-manylinux_2_28_x86_64.whl; pygraphviz-2.0.1-cp312-cp312-win_amd64.whl; pygraphviz-2.0.1-cp313-cp313-macosx_11_0_arm64.whl; pygraphviz-2.0.1-cp313-cp313-macosx_11_0_x86_64.whl; pygraphviz-2.0.1-cp313-cp313-manylinux_2_28_aarch64.whl; pygraphviz-2.0.1-cp313-cp313-manylinux_2_28_x86_64.whl; pygraphviz-2.0.1-cp313-cp313-win_amd64.whl
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