PyQt6-sip

What it is and what it does

PyQt6-sip is the runtime support module for PyQt6, part of the SIP (Sip Is Python) bindings generator ecosystem. SIP is a collection of tools for creating Python bindings to C and C++ libraries; it was originally developed to create PyQt but is also used for projects like wxPython. This package provides the sip module itself—a set of support functions that the automatically generated C/C++ extension code depends on at runtime. The sip module is Python-version-specific (unlike the generated extension modules, which can be version-independent), so precompiled wheels are provided for Python 3.10 through 3.14 across multiple architectures.

In typical usage, PyQt6-sip is installed as a dependency of PyQt6 rather than directly. It is not a build tool or code generator; it is purely the runtime layer that allows SIP-generated bindings to function. The package has no runtime dependencies of its own, making it a lightweight addition to any PyQt6 installation.

Use it for:

• Installing PyQt6 for GUI development—PyQt6-sip is pulled in automatically as a required dependency.
• Ensuring compatibility when upgrading Python versions—precompiled wheels for each Python version ensure the correct sip module is installed.
• Developing custom C/C++ bindings with SIP—the sip module provides the runtime support layer for any SIP-generated extension module.
• Distributing PyQt6-based applications—PyQt6-sip is bundled as part of the PyQt6 package distribution.

Worth the install?

AI-flagged interpretation of the facts on this page — verify before relying

PyQt6-sip provides the runtime support module for PyQt6, enabling Python bindings to the Qt toolkit through SIP-generated extension modules.

Yes, if you are installing PyQt6. PyQt6-sip is a required runtime dependency with no known vulnerabilities, permissive licensing, active maintenance, and precompiled wheels for all major platforms and Python versions. Install it directly only if you are building custom SIP bindings; otherwise, it will be pulled in automatically by PyQt6.

Install

pyqt6-sip on PyPI

pip install pyqt6-sip

uv add pyqt6-sip

poetry add pyqt6-sip

Installing PyQt6-sip

Before you install

Medium install friction due to precompiled wheels for multiple Python versions (3.10–3.14) and architectures (x86_64, aarch64, arm64, universal2), but wheels are available for all major platforms. Active maintenance with recent release.

License in practice

BSD-2-Clause permissive license allows use in commercial and proprietary projects with minimal restrictions; includes a copy of ply under BSD-3-Clause.

Quickstart

pip install pyqt6-sip

import PyQt6.sip as sip
# Used internally by PyQt6; typically not called directly by end users

Requires Python 3.10 or later; precompiled wheels are provided but system may require compatible architecture.

Verify before relying

• Whether this package is intended for direct use or only as a transitive dependency of PyQt6.
• What specific runtime support functions the sip module provides to generated bindings.
• Whether the package is compatible with SIP-generated bindings for libraries other than PyQt6.

Package facts

Evidence: pyqt6_sip-13.12.0-cp310-cp310-macosx_10_9_universal2.whl; pyqt6_sip-13.12.0-cp310-cp310-manylinux1_x86_64.manylinux_2_5_x86_64.whl; pyqt6_sip-13.12.0-cp310-cp310-manylinux_2_17_aarch64.manylinux2014_aarch64.whl; pyqt6_sip-13.12.0-cp310-cp310-win_amd64.whl; pyqt6_sip-13.12.0-cp311-cp311-macosx_10_9_universal2.whl; pyqt6_sip-13.12.0-cp311-cp311-manylinux1_x86_64.manylinux_2_5_x86_64.whl; pyqt6_sip-13.12.0-cp311-cp311-manylinux_2_17_aarch64.manylinux2014_aarch64.whl; pyqt6_sip-13.12.0-cp311-cp311-win_amd64.whl; pyqt6_sip-13.12.0-cp311-cp311-win_arm64.whl; pyqt6_sip-13.12.0-cp312-cp312-macosx_10_9_universal2.whl; pyqt6_sip-13.12.0-cp312-cp312-manylinux1_x86_64.manylinux_2_5_x86_64.whl; pyqt6_sip-13.12.0-cp312-cp312-manylinux_2_17_aarch64.manylinux2014_aarch64.whl; pyqt6_sip-13.12.0-cp312-cp312-win_amd64.whl; pyqt6_sip-13.12.0-cp312-cp312-win_arm64.whl; pyqt6_sip-13.12.0-cp313-cp313-macosx_10_13_universal2.whl; pyqt6_sip-13.12.0-cp313-cp313-manylinux1_x86_64.manylinux_2_5_x86_64.whl; pyqt6_sip-13.12.0-cp313-cp313-manylinux_2_17_aarch64.manylinux2014_aarch64.whl; pyqt6_sip-13.12.0-cp313-cp313-win_amd64.whl; pyqt6_sip-13.12.0-cp313-cp313-win_arm64.whl; pyqt6_sip-13.12.0-cp314-cp314-macosx_10_15_universal2.whl

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