---
id: python-bidi
version: "0.6.11"
license: unclear
license_treatment: copyleft
maintenance: active
---

# python-bidi — Python Bidi layout wrapping the Rust crate unicode-bidi

License: copyleft · Maintenance: active · Downloads: 11.3M/mo

## 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 above — verify before relying.

Converts bidirectional text (mixed left-to-right and right-to-left scripts) into display order for rendering, with both Python and Rust implementations available.

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

pip install python-bidi
uv add python-bidi
poetry add python-bidi

## Installing python-bidi

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 order

Verify 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: not declared (copyleft)
- Python support: supports_current
- Install friction: medium
- Maintenance: active
- Downloads: 11.3M/month (top 5,000 on PyPI)
- Known vulnerabilities: none known

## Tags

bidirectional text layout, bidi algorithm implementation, right-to-left text rendering, unicode text direction, mixed script display order, hebrew arabic text layout, bidi display conversion, unicode-text, bidi-layout, text-rendering

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