Installing Python on Mac

Installing Python on Mac

Python is a powerful, versatile programming language that can be used to create everything from simple scripts to complex applications. Installing it on a Mac is easy, and this tutorial will walk you through the process step-by-step.

Step 1: Download the latest version of Python

Go to the Python downloads page and download the latest version of Python for Mac OS X. This should be a disk image (dmg) file with a name like "python-3.6.4-macosx10.6.dmg".

Step 2: Open the disk image file

Once the download is complete, double-click the disk image file to open it. This will mount the disk image and open a new window. In the window, double-click the "Python 3.6.4" install package.

Step 3: Install Python

The Python 3.6.4 installer will open. Follow the instructions to install Python. You may need to enter your computer's administrator password at some point during the installation. Once the installation is complete, Python will be installed in the Applications folder.

Step 4: Test the Python installation

To test that Python is properly installed, open a terminal window and type the following:

python --version

If Python is installed correctly, you should see the version number printed to the screen (e.g. "Python 3.6.4").

Conclusion

Congratulations, you have successfully installed Python on your Mac! You are now ready to start writing your own Python programs.