python-bidi
Python Bidi layout wrapping the Rust crate unicode-bidi
Decision gist · record as of 2026-08-14
Yes. The package is actively maintained, has no known vulnerabilities, zero runtime dependencies, and solves a specific and well-defined problem in text rendering. Install it if you need to display bidirectional text; the LGPL license is standard for text-processing libraries and poses no barrier for most projects. The Rust implementation path offers better algorithm coverage for new code.AI-flagged interpretation of the facts on this page — verify before relying
Before you install
- Medium install friction due to precompiled wheels for multiple platforms and Python versions (3.9–3.14), but no runtime dependencies.
- Last release 45 days ago; repository active with 126 stars and recent commits.
License · maintenance · safety
copyleft license (copyleft) — Licensed under LGPL (copyleft); derivative works and modifications must be distributed under compatible terms. Suitable for open-source projects but requires careful review for proprietary use.
last release 2026-06-30 (45 days) · last repo commit 2026-06-30 · 126 stars
0 known vulnerabilities (OSV.dev, 2026-08-14) · 11,274,418 downloads/mo, #1,402 on PyPI
Alternatives
Verify before relying
pip install python-bidi
from bidi import get_display
result = get_display('שלום') # Hebrew text
print(result) # Displays in correct visual order- Whether the Rust implementation covers all Unicode Bidirectional Algorithm versions or has known gaps beyond what issue #25 documents.
- Performance characteristics and memory overhead when processing large volumes of mixed-script text.
- Compatibility with non-UTF-8 encodings in production scenarios.
What it is and what it does
Python BiDi solves the problem of displaying bidirectional text—text that mixes left-to-right scripts (like English) with right-to-left scripts (like Hebrew or Arabic). It implements the Unicode Bidirectional Algorithm to reorder characters into their correct visual display sequence. The package offers two implementations: a pure Python version (V5 of the algorithm) and a newer Rust-based wrapper around the unicode-bidi crate, which implements a higher version of the algorithm.
You use it by passing a string or bytes to `get_display()`, optionally specifying encoding, base direction, or debug output. It returns the text in display order, ready for rendering. The package also includes a command-line tool (`pybidi`) for processing text files or stdin. It has no runtime dependencies and supports Python 3.9 through 3.14, with precompiled wheels for most platforms.
Use it for
- Render mixed Hebrew and English text correctly in web applications or documents.
- Process Arabic text in data pipelines where visual order is required for display.
- Build text editors or terminal utilities that handle bidirectional scripts.
- Convert stored Unicode text to display order before passing to rendering engines.
- Debug bidirectional text layout issues with the debug flag to inspect Unicode levels.
- Command-line text processing for files containing right-to-left scripts.
Worth the install?
AI-flagged interpretation of the facts on this page. Verify before relying on it.
Yes.
The package is actively maintained, has no known vulnerabilities, zero runtime dependencies, and solves a specific and well-defined problem in text rendering. Install it if you need to display bidirectional text; the LGPL license is standard for text-processing libraries and poses no barrier for most projects. The Rust implementation path offers better algorithm coverage for new code.
Install
python-bidi on PyPI
Before you install
Medium install friction due to precompiled wheels for multiple platforms and Python versions (3.9–3.14), but no runtime dependencies. Last release 45 days ago; repository active with 126 stars and recent commits.
License in practice
Licensed under LGPL (copyleft); derivative works and modifications must be distributed under compatible terms. Suitable for open-source projects but requires careful review for proprietary use.
Quickstart
pip install python-bidi
from bidi import get_display
result = get_display('שלום') # Hebrew text
print(result) # Displays in correct visual orderVerify before relying
- Whether the Rust implementation covers all Unicode Bidirectional Algorithm versions or has known gaps beyond what issue #25 documents.
- Performance characteristics and memory overhead when processing large volumes of mixed-script text.
- Compatibility with non-UTF-8 encodings in production scenarios.
Package facts
| License | copyleft license copyleft |
| Python support | Supports the current Python release >=3.9 |
| Install friction | Medium. Platform-specific wheel |
| Runtime dependencies | None |
| Maintenance | Actively maintained 45 days since the last release |
| Last repo commit | |
| First released | |
| Downloads | 11,274,418 / month, #1,402 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 :: DevelopersLicense :: OSI Approved :: GNU Library or Lesser General Public License (LGPL)Operating System :: OS IndependentProgramming 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 :: 3.9Topic :: Text Processing |
Evidence: python_bidi-0.6.11-cp310-cp310-macosx_10_12_x86_64.whl; python_bidi-0.6.11-cp310-cp310-macosx_11_0_arm64.whl; python_bidi-0.6.11-cp310-cp310-manylinux_2_17_aarch64.manylinux2014_aarch64.whl; python_bidi-0.6.11-cp310-cp310-manylinux_2_17_armv7l.manylinux2014_armv7l.whl; python_bidi-0.6.11-cp310-cp310-manylinux_2_17_ppc64le.manylinux2014_ppc64le.whl; python_bidi-0.6.11-cp310-cp310-manylinux_2_17_s390x.manylinux2014_s390x.whl; python_bidi-0.6.11-cp310-cp310-manylinux_2_17_x86_64.manylinux2014_x86_64.whl; python_bidi-0.6.11-cp310-cp310-manylinux_2_5_i686.manylinux1_i686.whl; python_bidi-0.6.11-cp310-cp310-musllinux_1_2_aarch64.whl; python_bidi-0.6.11-cp310-cp310-musllinux_1_2_armv7l.whl; python_bidi-0.6.11-cp310-cp310-musllinux_1_2_i686.whl; python_bidi-0.6.11-cp310-cp310-musllinux_1_2_x86_64.whl; python_bidi-0.6.11-cp310-cp310-win32.whl; python_bidi-0.6.11-cp310-cp310-win_amd64.whl; python_bidi-0.6.11-cp311-cp311-macosx_10_12_x86_64.whl; python_bidi-0.6.11-cp311-cp311-macosx_11_0_arm64.whl; python_bidi-0.6.11-cp311-cp311-manylinux_2_17_aarch64.manylinux2014_aarch64.whl; python_bidi-0.6.11-cp311-cp311-manylinux_2_17_armv7l.manylinux2014_armv7l.whl; python_bidi-0.6.11-cp311-cp311-manylinux_2_17_ppc64le.manylinux2014_ppc64le.whl; python_bidi-0.6.11-cp311-cp311-manylinux_2_17_s390x.manylinux2014_s390x.whl
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See also arabic-reshaper · bidict · cyrtranslit · transliterate · mikeshardmind-base2048 · databento-dbn · idna · unicode-segmentation-rs · win_unicode_console · pansi