What is the common header format of Python files?
Last Updated : 21 Apr, 2025
When writing Python scripts, it's important to maintain a clean and well-documented codebase. One of the key practices for achieving this is adding a header to each Python file. The header provides essential information about the script, such as its functionality, author and dependencies, which can be especially useful for collaboration and code maintenance.
Let’s understand the key components of a Python file header. Each part provides essential information about the script. Here's how to create one step by step:
1. Shebang Line: The shebang line at the top of the file tells the operating system which interpreter to use when running the script. It's primarily used in Unix-like operating systems.
#!/usr/bin/env python3
2. Encoding Declaration: It specifies the encoding used in the Python source file, which is important when the file contains non-ASCII characters. This line is typically placed at the top of the file, immediately following the shebang line (if present).
# -*- coding: utf-8 -*-
3. Docstring: It is a multi-line string that provides a detailed description of the script/module. It usually includes:
- File Name: The name of the script.
- Author: The creator of the file.
- Created/Updated Date: When the file was created or last updated.
- Version: The current version of the script.
- Description: A brief overview of the file’s purpose.
"""
Filename: myscript.py
Author: John Doe
Date: 2024-04-17
Version: 1.0
Description: This script performs basic file manipulation.
"""
4. Metadata: Additional information such as license details, contact information and external dependencies can also be included in the header. This is helpful for managing the script’s usage, distribution and collaboration.
"""
License: MIT License
Contact: [email protected]
Dependencies: os, sys
"""
Examples of creating headers
Example 1: In this example, we are creating a basic header with essential details like the filename, author, creation date and a brief description of the script's purpose.
Python # Filename: basic_header.py # Author: Jane Doe # Created: 2024-06-19 # Description: This script has a basic header format. import os import sys print("Hello World!") Output
Hello World!
Example 2: In this example, we are adding more details to the header, including the shebang line, encoding declaration, and additional information like the version and description of the script.
Python #!/usr/bin/env python3 # -*- coding: utf-8 -*- """ Filename: detailed_header.py Author: John Doe Date: 2024-06-11 Version: 1.0 Description: This script has a detailed header format. """ import os import sys print("Hello World!") Output
Hello World!
Example 3: In this example, we are using an extended header format that includes the shebang line, encoding declaration and more detailed information like the script's license, contact information and dependencies.
Python #!/usr/bin/env python3 # -*- coding: utf-8 -*- """ Filename: extended_header.py Author: Jane Smith Date: 2024-06-11 Version: 1.0 Description: This script demonstrates a detailed header format with additional metadata. License: MIT License Contact: [email protected] Dependencies: os, sys """ import os import sys print("Hello World!") Output
Hello World!
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