---
id: zhinst-utils
version: "0.7.2"
license: unclear
license_treatment: permissive
maintenance: active
---

# zhinst-utils — Zurich Instruments utils for device control

License: permissive · Maintenance: active · Downloads: 135.3K/mo

## What it is and what it does

zhinst-utils is a companion library to the native zhinst.core LabOne Python API, providing higher-level helper functions for communicating with Zurich Instruments quantum and RF devices. Rather than replacing zhinst.core, it augments it with convenience functions and device-specific utilities for SHFQA, SHFSG, and SHFQC devices, reducing boilerplate in typical device control workflows.

The package depends on numpy, zhinst-core, and zhinst-timing-models, and is designed for developers working directly with Zurich Instruments hardware. It offers both generic utility functions and device-specific modules, allowing you to import only what you need for your particular device or use case.

Use it for:

- Simplify setup and calibration routines for SHFQA quantum analyzers.
- Reduce boilerplate when configuring SHFSG signal generators for RF experiments.
- Streamline SHFQC quantum controller initialization and control sequences.
- Add convenience wrappers around low-level zhinst.core API calls for faster prototyping.
- Access device-specific helper functions not available in the base LabOne API.

## Worth the install?

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

Provides helper functions and device-specific utilities for the Zurich Instruments LabOne API, simplifying communication with SHFQA, SHFSG, and SHFQC devices.

Yes, if you are working with Zurich Instruments SHFQA, SHFSG, or SHFQC devices. The package is actively maintained, has low install friction, carries a permissive MIT license, and provides genuine convenience on top of zhinst.core. Not relevant for users without these specific devices.

## Install

pip install zhinst-utils
uv add zhinst-utils
poetry add zhinst-utils

## Installing zhinst-utils

Before you install: Low friction installation with a pure Python wheel. Active maintenance as of 2026-01-14 with recent release activity.

License in practice: MIT license permits commercial and private use with minimal restrictions.

Quickstart:

pip install zhinst-utils

import zhinst.utils.shfqa
help(zhinst.utils.shfqa)

Requires Python 3.7 or later and zhinst-core to be installed separately.

Verify before relying:

- Whether device-specific utilities (SHFQA, SHFSG, SHFQC) are actively maintained or if some are deprecated.
- Performance characteristics or limitations when working with large datasets or many concurrent device connections.

## Package facts

- License: not declared (permissive)
- Python support: supports_current
- Install friction: low
- Maintenance: active
- Downloads: 135.3K/month (top 15,000 on PyPI)
- Known vulnerabilities: none known

## Tags

zurich instruments device control, labone api helpers, shfqa shfsg shfqc utilities, quantum device communication, zurich instruments utils, quantum-computing, hardware-control

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