# urllib

> software library for HTTP connection in Python

**Wikidata**: [Q100152936](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q100152936)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/urllib

## Summary
`urllib` is a free, open-source Python library designed for HTTP connections, providing tools for making web requests and handling HTTP protocols. It is part of Python's standard library and is widely used for web scraping, API interactions, and network programming.

## Key Facts
- **Aliases**: `urllib2` and `urllib3` are related libraries, though `urllib` refers to the broader ecosystem.
- **License**: Distributed under the MIT License, allowing free use, modification, and distribution.
- **Latest Version**: `1.25.9` (released on 2020-07-16).
- **Programming Language**: Written in Python, compatible with Python 2.7 and 3.x.
- **Package Managers**: Available via PyPI (`urllib3`) and included in package managers like Arch Linux and openSUSE.
- **Website**: Official documentation is hosted at [urllib3.readthedocs.io](https://urllib3.readthedocs.io/en/stable/).
- **Source Code**: Hosted on GitHub at [github.com/urllib3/urllib3](https://github.com/urllib3/urllib3).

## FAQs
### Q: What is urllib used for?
A: `urllib` is primarily used for making HTTP requests, handling web connections, and interacting with web services in Python applications.

### Q: Is urllib free to use?
A: Yes, `urllib` is free software distributed under the MIT License, allowing unrestricted use and modification.

### Q: How do I install urllib?
A: `urllib` is included in Python's standard library, so no installation is required. However, the `urllib3` package can be installed via PyPI using `pip install urllib3`.

### Q: What are the alternatives to urllib?
A: Alternatives include Python's built-in `requests` library and the `http.client` module for lower-level HTTP operations.

### Q: Who maintains urllib?
A: The project is maintained by the open-source community, with contributions managed on GitHub.

## Why It Matters
`urllib` plays a crucial role in Python's ecosystem by simplifying HTTP communication, which is essential for web development, data scraping, and API interactions. Its inclusion in Python's standard library ensures broad adoption, while the `urllib3` package extends functionality with features like connection pooling, thread safety, and advanced HTTP features. By providing a reliable and efficient way to handle web requests, `urllib` empowers developers to build robust applications that interact with web services seamlessly. Its open-source nature fosters community contributions, ensuring continuous improvement and adaptation to evolving web standards.

## Notable For
- **Standard Library Integration**: Included in Python's core, making it universally available without additional installation.
- **MIT License**: Permits free use, modification, and distribution, encouraging widespread adoption.
- **Active Maintenance**: Regular updates (latest version 1.25.9 as of 2020) ensure compatibility with modern web protocols.
- **Cross-Platform Compatibility**: Works across different operating systems and Python versions.
- **Community-Driven Development**: Hosted on GitHub, allowing open collaboration and issue tracking.

## Body
### Overview
`urllib` is a Python library for HTTP connections, part of the broader `urllib` ecosystem, which includes `urllib2` and `urllib3`. The `urllib3` package extends functionality with features like connection pooling, thread safety, and support for modern HTTP features.

### Licensing and Distribution
- Licensed under the MIT License, allowing free use, modification, and distribution.
- Available via PyPI (`urllib3`) and included in package managers like Arch Linux (`python-urllib3`) and openSUSE (`python-urllib3`).

### Versions and Releases
- Latest stable version: `1.25.9` (released 2020-07-16).
- Previous versions include `1.25.8` (2020-01-21), `1.25.7` (2019-12-29), and `1.25.6` (2019-09-24).
- All versions are documented on GitHub releases.

### Technical Details
- Written in Python, compatible with Python 2.7 and 3.x.
- Official documentation hosted at [urllib3.readthedocs.io](https://urllib3.readthedocs.io/en/stable/).
- Source code available on GitHub under the `urllib3` repository.

### Use Cases
- Web scraping and data extraction.
- API interactions and service integrations.
- Network programming and HTTP request handling.

### Maintenance and Community
- Maintained by the open-source community.
- GitHub repository provides issue tracking and pull requests.
- Regular updates ensure compatibility with modern web standards.

## References

1. [Release 1.24.3. 2019](https://github.com/urllib3/urllib3/releases/tag/1.24.3)
2. [Release 1.25. 2019](https://github.com/urllib3/urllib3/releases/tag/1.25)
3. [Release 1.25.1. 2019](https://github.com/urllib3/urllib3/releases/tag/1.25.1)
4. [Release 1.25.2. 2019](https://github.com/urllib3/urllib3/releases/tag/1.25.2)
5. [Release 1.25.4. 2019](https://github.com/urllib3/urllib3/releases/tag/1.25.4)
6. [Release 1.25.5. 2019](https://github.com/urllib3/urllib3/releases/tag/1.25.5)
7. [Release 1.25.6. 2019](https://github.com/urllib3/urllib3/releases/tag/1.25.6)
8. [Release 1.25.7. 2019](https://github.com/urllib3/urllib3/releases/tag/1.25.7)
9. [Release 1.25.8. 2020](https://github.com/urllib3/urllib3/releases/tag/1.25.8)
10. [Release 1.25.9. 2020](https://github.com/urllib3/urllib3/releases/tag/1.25.9)
11. [Release 1.25.10. 2020](https://github.com/urllib3/urllib3/releases/tag/1.25.10)
12. [Release 1.25.11. 2020](https://github.com/urllib3/urllib3/releases/tag/1.25.11)
13. [Release 1.26.0. 2020](https://github.com/urllib3/urllib3/releases/tag/1.26.0)
14. [Release 1.26.1. 2020](https://github.com/urllib3/urllib3/releases/tag/1.26.1)
15. [Release 1.26.2. 2020](https://github.com/urllib3/urllib3/releases/tag/1.26.2)
16. [Release 1.26.3. 2021](https://github.com/urllib3/urllib3/releases/tag/1.26.3)
17. [Release 1.26.4](https://github.com/urllib3/urllib3/releases/tag/1.26.4)
18. [Release 1.26.5](https://github.com/urllib3/urllib3/releases/tag/1.26.5)
19. [Release 1.26.6](https://github.com/urllib3/urllib3/releases/tag/1.26.6)
20. [Release 1.26.8](https://github.com/urllib3/urllib3/releases/tag/1.26.8)
21. [Release 1.26.9](https://github.com/urllib3/urllib3/releases/tag/1.26.9)
22. [Release 1.26.7. 2021](https://github.com/urllib3/urllib3/releases/tag/1.26.7)
23. [Release 1.26.10. 2022](https://github.com/urllib3/urllib3/releases/tag/1.26.10)
24. [Release 1.26.11. 2022](https://github.com/urllib3/urllib3/releases/tag/1.26.11)
25. [Release 1.26.12. 2022](https://github.com/urllib3/urllib3/releases/tag/1.26.12)
26. [Release 1.26.13. 2022](https://github.com/urllib3/urllib3/releases/tag/1.26.13)
27. [Release 1.26.14. 2023](https://github.com/urllib3/urllib3/releases/tag/1.26.14)
28. [Release 1.26.15. 2023](https://github.com/urllib3/urllib3/releases/tag/1.26.15)
29. [Release 2.0.0. 2023](https://github.com/urllib3/urllib3/releases/tag/2.0.0)
30. [Release 2.0.1. 2023](https://github.com/urllib3/urllib3/releases/tag/2.0.1)
31. [Release 2.0.2. 2023](https://github.com/urllib3/urllib3/releases/tag/2.0.2)
32. [Release 1.26.16. 2023](https://github.com/urllib3/urllib3/releases/tag/1.26.16)
33. [Release 2.0.3. 2023](https://github.com/urllib3/urllib3/releases/tag/2.0.3)
34. [Source](https://pypi.org/project/urllib3/#history)
35. [Release 1.26.17. 2023](https://github.com/urllib3/urllib3/releases/tag/1.26.17)
36. [Release 1.26.18. 2023](https://github.com/urllib3/urllib3/releases/tag/1.26.18)
37. [Release 2.0.5. 2023](https://github.com/urllib3/urllib3/releases/tag/v2.0.5)
38. [Release 2.0.6. 2023](https://github.com/urllib3/urllib3/releases/tag/2.0.6)
39. [Release 2.0.7. 2023](https://github.com/urllib3/urllib3/releases/tag/2.0.7)
40. [Release 2.1.0. 2023](https://github.com/urllib3/urllib3/releases/tag/2.1.0)
41. [Release 2.2.0. 2024](https://github.com/urllib3/urllib3/releases/tag/2.2.0)
42. [Release 2.2.1. 2024](https://github.com/urllib3/urllib3/releases/tag/2.2.1)
43. [Release 1.26.19. 2024](https://github.com/urllib3/urllib3/releases/tag/1.26.19)
44. [Release 2.2.2. 2024](https://github.com/urllib3/urllib3/releases/tag/2.2.2)
45. [Release 1.26.20. 2024](https://github.com/urllib3/urllib3/releases/tag/1.26.20)
46. [Release 2.2.3. 2024](https://github.com/urllib3/urllib3/releases/tag/2.2.3)
47. [Release 2.3.0. 2024](https://github.com/urllib3/urllib3/releases/tag/2.3.0)
48. [Release 2.4.0. 2025](https://github.com/urllib3/urllib3/releases/tag/2.4.0)
49. [Release 2.5.0. 2025](https://github.com/urllib3/urllib3/releases/tag/2.5.0)
50. [Release 2.6.0. 2025](https://github.com/urllib3/urllib3/releases/tag/2.6.0)