---
id: pyrealsense2
version: "2.58.3.10794"
license: Apache License, Version 2.0
license_treatment: permissive
maintenance: active
---

# pyrealsense2 — Python Wrapper for Realsense SDK 2.0.

License: permissive · Maintenance: active · Downloads: 209.2K/mo

## What it is and what it does

pyrealsense2 is the official Python binding for Intel RealSense SDK 2.0, a cross-platform library for working with RealSense depth cameras. It exposes a high-level API for streaming depth and color frames, querying camera intrinsics and extrinsics, and extracting per-pixel depth values. The package wraps the native C++ SDK and is distributed as precompiled wheels for Python 3.9–3.14 on Windows, Linux (x86_64 and aarch64), and other platforms.

The library is designed for robotics, 3D scanning, skeletal tracking, facial authentication, and other computer vision tasks that require synchronized depth and color data. It has no Python runtime dependencies, relying instead on the underlying compiled RealSense library. The project is actively maintained, recently migrated to the RealSenseAI GitHub organization, and supports a range of stereo depth cameras with varying baseline lengths and depth ranges.

Use it for:

- Robotics applications requiring real-time depth sensing for obstacle avoidance, grasping, or navigation.
- 3D scanning and reconstruction workflows that need synchronized RGB and depth frame capture.
- Skeletal tracking and human pose estimation using depth data from supported RealSense cameras.
- Close-range computer vision tasks (sub-millimeter accuracy) using short-range depth cameras like the D405.
- Long-range depth sensing (up to 10 m) for outdoor or industrial monitoring with cameras like the D455.

## Worth the install?

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

Python wrapper for Intel RealSense SDK 2.0 that enables depth and color streaming from RealSense depth cameras, with access to calibration data and frame intrinsics.

Yes. The package is actively maintained, has no Python dependencies, supports modern Python versions (3.9–3.14), carries no known vulnerabilities, and is the standard way to use RealSense cameras from Python. Install friction is moderate due to compiled wheels, but prebuilt binaries are available for common platforms. Suitable for production use in robotics, computer vision, and 3D imaging projects.

## Install

pip install pyrealsense2
uv add pyrealsense2
poetry add pyrealsense2

## Installing pyrealsense2

Before you install: Medium install friction due to compiled wheels for multiple Python versions and platforms (cp39–cp314, manylinux, Windows, aarch64), but no runtime dependencies. Active maintenance with a release 26 days ago and ongoing repository activity.

License in practice: Apache License 2.0 (permissive) allows commercial and private use with minimal restrictions; attribution required but no copyleft obligations.

Quickstart:

pip install pyrealsense2

import pyrealsense2 as rs

pipeline = rs.pipeline()
pipeline.start()
frames = pipeline.wait_for_frames()
depth_frame = frames.get_depth_frame()
dist = depth_frame.get_distance(depth_frame.get_width() // 2, depth_frame.get_height() // 2)
pipeline.stop()

Requires a connected RealSense depth camera (D405, D435if, D455, D457, D555, or compatible model) and appropriate USB or PoE connectivity.

Verify before relying:

- Whether all supported RealSense camera models are documented or discoverable from the package alone.
- Real-world latency and frame-rate performance characteristics for different camera models and streaming configurations.
- Compatibility with non-standard or third-party stereo cameras beyond the official RealSense product line.

## Package facts

- License: Apache License, Version 2.0 (permissive)
- Python support: supports_current
- Install friction: medium
- Maintenance: active
- Downloads: 209.2K/month (top 15,000 on PyPI)
- Known vulnerabilities: none known

## Tags

realsense depth camera python, stereo depth streaming, rgb-d camera sdk, 3d camera python wrapper, depth frame capture, realsense sdk python, depth sensor integration, depth-sensing, computer-vision, robotics

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