---
id: python-swiftclient
version: "4.10.0"
license: Apache License, Version 2.0
license_treatment: permissive
maintenance: active
---

# python-swiftclient — OpenStack Object Storage API Client Library

License: permissive · Maintenance: active · Downloads: 634.9K/mo

## What it is and what it does

python-swiftclient is the official Python client for OpenStack's Object Storage service (Swift). It provides both a Python API module for programmatic access and a command-line tool (swift) for interactive management of containers and objects in a Swift cluster. The library wraps HTTP requests to the Swift API, handling authentication, connection pooling, and common operations like uploading, downloading, and listing objects.

The package is lightweight, depending only on requests for HTTP communication. It's designed for operators and developers working with OpenStack deployments or compatible object storage systems. The library supports modern Python versions (3.7 through 3.14) and is actively maintained as part of the OpenStack project, following standard OpenStack development and release processes.

Use it for:

- Automate bulk uploads or downloads of files to/from a Swift container in an OpenStack environment.
- Build a Python application that stores and retrieves objects from Swift as a backend.
- Write deployment or infrastructure scripts that manage Swift containers and metadata.
- Integrate object storage operations into CI/CD pipelines targeting OpenStack.
- Migrate data between local storage and Swift-based cloud object storage.

## Worth the install?

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

Python client library for OpenStack Object Storage (Swift) API, providing both a programmatic module and a command-line interface to interact with Swift containers and objects.

Yes, if you are working with OpenStack Swift or a compatible object storage system. The package is actively maintained, has low install friction, carries a permissive license, and is the standard choice for Python-based Swift interaction. No known vulnerabilities. Install only if you have a Swift endpoint to connect to.

## Install

pip install python-swiftclient
uv add python-swiftclient
poetry add python-swiftclient

## Installing python-swiftclient

Before you install: Low install friction with a single runtime dependency (requests). Actively maintained with a release 170 days ago; supports Python 3.7 through 3.14.

License in practice: Licensed under Apache License, Version 2.0 (permissive). Safe for commercial and proprietary use with standard attribution requirements.

Quickstart:

pip install python-swiftclient

from swiftclient.client import Connection

conn = Connection(authurl='https://swift.example.com/auth',
                  user='user', key='password')
headers, containers = conn.get_account()

Requires a working OpenStack Swift endpoint with valid credentials to authenticate and perform operations.

Verify before relying:

- Which Swift API protocol versions are supported and recommended.
- Performance characteristics when handling large object uploads or bulk operations.
- Compatibility with non-OpenStack Swift implementations or forks.

## Package facts

- License: Apache License, Version 2.0 (permissive)
- Python support: supports_current
- Install friction: low
- Maintenance: active
- Downloads: 634.9K/month (top 15,000 on PyPI)
- Known vulnerabilities: none known

## Tags

openstack swift client, object storage api python, swift api bindings, openstack storage client, cloud object storage python, openstack, object-storage, cloud-api

[View on SkillFed](https://skillfed.io/packages/python-swiftclient) · [View on PyPI](https://pypi.org/project/python-swiftclient/)