---
name: textual
summary: "Textual is a Python framework for building interactive applications with a CSS-styled, widget-based, reactive API that run in the terminal and can also be served to a web browser. It brings web-style layout and theming to TUIs while staying async-optional."
language: Python
license: MIT
repo: https://github.com/Textualize/textual
source: https://opensources.dev/resource/textual
health: 100
---

# textual

Textual is a Python framework for building interactive applications with a CSS-styled, widget-based, reactive API that run in the terminal and can also be served to a web browser. It brings web-style layout and theming to TUIs while staying async-optional.

[![Discord](https://img.shields.io/discord/1026214085173461072)](https://discord.gg/Enf6Z3qhVr)
[![Supported Python Versions](https://img.shields.io/pypi/pyversions/textual)](https://pypi.org/project/textual/)
[![PyPI version](https://badge.fury.io/py/textual.svg?)](https://badge.fury.io/py/textual)
![OS support](https://img.shields.io/badge/OS-macOS%20Linux%20Windows-red)

![textual-splash](https://github.com/user-attachments/assets/4caeb77e-48c0-4cf7-b14d-c53ded855ffd)

# Textual

Build cross-platform user interfaces with a simple Python API. Run your apps in the terminal *or* a web browser.

Textual's API combines modern Python with the best of developments from the web world, for a lean app development experience.
De-coupled components and an advanced [testing](https://textual.textualize.io/guide/testing/) framework ensure you can maintain your app for the long-term.

Want some more examples? See the [examples](https://github.com/Textualize/textual/tree/main/examples) directory.

```python
"""
An App to show the current time.
"""

from datetime import datetime

from textual.app import App, ComposeResult
from textual.widgets import Digits

class ClockApp(App):
    CSS = """
    Screen { align: center middle; }
    Digits { width: auto; }
    """

    def compose(self) -> ComposeResult:
        yield Digits("")

    def on_ready(self) -> None:
        self.update_clock()
        self.set_interval(1, self.update_clock)

    def update_clock(self) -> None:
        clock = datetime.now().time()
        self.query_one(Digits).update(f"{clock:%T}")

if __name__ == "__main__":
    app = ClockApp()
    app.run()
```

> [!TIP]
> Textual is an asynchronous framework under the hood. Which means you can integrate your apps with async libraries — if you want to.
> If you don't want or need to use async, Textual won't force it on you.

## Widgets

Textual's library of [widgets](https://textual.textualize.io/widget_gallery/) covers everything from buttons, tree controls, data tables, inputs, text areas, and more…
Combined with a flexible [layout](https://textual.textualize.io/how-to/design-a-layout/) system, you can realize any User Interface you need.

Predefined themes ensure your apps will look good out of the box.

![buttons](https://github.com/user-attachments/assets/2ac26387-aaa3-41ed-bc00-7d488600343c)

![tree](https://github.com/user-attachments/assets/61ccd6e9-97ea-4918-8eda-3ee0f0d3770e)

![datatables](https://github.com/user-attachments/assets/3e1f9f7a-f965-4901-a114-3c188bd17695)

![inputs](https://github.com/user-attachments/assets/b02aa203-7c37-42da-a1bb-2cb244b7d0d3)

![listview](https://github.com/user-attachments/assets/963603bc-aa07-4688-bd24-379962ece871)

![textarea](https://github.com/user-attachments/assets/cd4ba787-5519-40e2-8d86-8224e1b7e506)

## Installing

Install Textual via pip:

```tsx
pip install textual textual-dev
```

See [getting started](https://textual.textualize.io/getting_started/) for details.

## Demo

Run the following command to see a little of what Textual can do:

```tsx
python -m textual
```

Or try the [textual demo](https://github.com/textualize/textual-demo) *without* installing (requires [uv](https://docs.astral.sh/uv/)):

```bash
uvx --python 3.12 textual-demo
```

## Dev Console

How do you debug an app in the terminal that is also running in the terminal?

The `textual-dev` package supplies a dev console that connects to your application from another terminal.
In addition to system messages and events, your logged messages and print statements will appear in the dev console.

See [the guide](https://textual.textualize.io/guide/devtools/) for other helpful tools provided by the `textual-dev` package.

## Command Palette

Textual apps have a *fuzzy search* command palette.
Hit `ctrl+p` to open the command palette.

It is easy to extend the command palette with [custom commands](https://textual.textualize.io/guide/command_palette/) for your application.

![Command Palette](https://github.com/user-attachments/assets/94d8ec5d-b668-4033-a5cb-bf820e1b8d60)

# Textual ❤️ Web

Textual apps are equally at home in the browser as they are the terminal. Any Textual app may be served with `textual serve` — so you can share your creations on the web.
Here's how to serve the demo app:

```tsx
textual serve "python -m textual"
```

In addition to serving your apps locally, you can serve apps with [Textual Web](https://github.com/Textualize/textual-web).

Textual Web's firewall-busting technology can serve an unlimited number of applications.

Since Textual apps have low system requirements, you can install them anywhere Python also runs. Turning any device into a connected device.
No desktop required!

## Join us on Discord

Join the Textual developers and community on our [Discord Server](https://discord.gg/Enf6Z3qhVr).