IDLE

IDLE, which stands for Integrated Development and Learning Environment, is an integrated development environment (IDE) that ships with most Python installations. It’s a lightweight and user-friendly tool designed to help you write, debug, and run Python code.

IDLE is an optional part of CPython, so a few Linux distributions package it separately. On Debian and Ubuntu, for example, you install it with sudo apt install idle3.

IDLE is particularly useful for beginners who are just starting to learn Python. It includes a Python shell window that colorizes your code, output, and error messages, and a multi-window editor with smart indentation, call tips, and auto-completion. You can set persistent breakpoints in the editor and turn on the debugger from the Shell window’s Debug menu. Module and path browsers help you navigate code in a tree view.

IDLE is implemented in Python using the Tkinter GUI toolkit, which makes it cross-platform and available on Windows, macOS, and Unix systems. It’s an excellent choice for educational purposes, as it allows new Python programmers to focus on learning the language without getting overwhelmed by the complexities of more advanced IDEs.

Example

This is a blank Python interpreter window in IDLE. You can use it to start interacting with Python immediately. You can test it out with a short line of code:

Hello World program shown in the IDLE python interpreter

Here, you used print() to output the string "Hello, from IDLE!" to your screen.

Getting Started With Python IDLE

Tutorial

Getting Started With Python IDLE

In this tutorial, you'll learn how to use the development environment included with your Python installation. Python IDLE is a small program that packs a big punch! You'll learn how to use Python IDLE to interact with Python directly, work with Python files, and improve your development workflow.

basics editors

For additional information on related topics, take a look at the following resources:

Have a question about this? Mentor AI can show you examples, compare related terms, and point you to tutorials.

  • Ask Mentor AI
  • Pick a question and Mentor AI takes it from here.
By Leodanis Pozo Ramos • Updated Sept. 25, 2026 • Reviewed by Dan Bader
Python Glossary Share Feedback