What is requirements.txt in a Python project?

In a Python project, a requirements.txt file is used to list all the dependencies required for the project to run correctly. This file is typically located at the root level of the project directory. The primary purpose of the requirements.txt file is to make it easy for other developers or users to install the necessary packages when setting up the project in their environment.

Each line of the requirements.txt file represents a package dependency, and it often includes the package's specific version. This way, you can ensure that your project is using the exact same versions of libraries you tested it with, reducing potential compatibility issues.

For example, a simple requirements.txt file might look like this:

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numpy==1.21.0
pandas==1.3.2
matplotlib==3.4.3
yfinance==0.1.63

To install the packages listed in the requirements.txt file, you can run the following command in your terminal or command prompt:

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python3 -m pip install -r requirements.txt

This command tells pip (the Python package installer) to install the specified packages and their corresponding versions as listed in the requirements.txt file.