1.. _extending-index: 2 3################################################## 4 Extending and Embedding the Python Interpreter 5################################################## 6 7This document describes how to write modules in C or C++ to extend the Python 8interpreter with new modules. Those modules can not only define new functions 9but also new object types and their methods. The document also describes how 10to embed the Python interpreter in another application, for use as an extension 11language. Finally, it shows how to compile and link extension modules so that 12they can be loaded dynamically (at run time) into the interpreter, if the 13underlying operating system supports this feature. 14 15This document assumes basic knowledge about Python. For an informal 16introduction to the language, see :ref:`tutorial-index`. :ref:`reference-index` 17gives a more formal definition of the language. :ref:`library-index` documents 18the existing object types, functions and modules (both built-in and written in 19Python) that give the language its wide application range. 20 21For a detailed description of the whole Python/C API, see the separate 22:ref:`c-api-index`. 23 24.. note:: 25 26 This guide only covers the basic tools for creating extensions provided 27 as part of this version of CPython. Third party tools may offer simpler 28 alternatives. Refer to the `binary extensions section 29 <https://packaging.python.org/en/latest/extensions/>`__ in the Python 30 Packaging User Guide for more information. 31 32 33.. toctree:: 34 :maxdepth: 2 35 :numbered: 36 37 extending.rst 38 newtypes.rst 39 building.rst 40 windows.rst 41 embedding.rst 42