Create a conventional project-local virtual environment.
Section: Create environments
Create a .venv environment
bash
bash
python -m venv .venvExplanation
Creates a virtual environment in `.venv`. The Python docs recommend `venv` for isolated project environments, and `.venv` is a common convention. On Python, `venv` creates an isolated environment based on the interpreter you invoke.
Learn the surrounding workflow
Compare similar commands or jump into common fixes when this command is part of a bigger troubleshooting path.
Related commands
Same sheet · prioritizing Create environments
Create with python3
Use python3 explicitly on systems where python points elsewhere.
Upgrade an existing environment after Python upgrade
Upgrade the environment after the base interpreter changed.
Customize the shell prompt name
Set the prompt label shown when the environment is active.
Create with Windows py launcher
Create an environment using the Windows Python launcher.
Create with a specific Python version
Use a specific interpreter to choose the base Python version.
Create in a custom directory
Create a venv anywhere, not just in the project root.