What Does if __name__ == "__main__" Mean in Python?

You’ve likely encountered Python’s if __name__ == "__main__" idiom when reading other people’s code. You might have even used if __name__ == "__main__" in your own scripts. But did you use it correctly?

This line of code can seem a little cryptic, so don’t fret if you’re not completely sure what it does, why you might want it, and when to use it.

In this video course, you’ll learn all about Python’s if __name__ == "__main__" idiom.

What’s Included:

Downloadable Resources:

About Arianne Dee

Arianne is a maker of many things, including software, sawdust, fabric scraps, and at least one person. She loves teaching about Python and Django from her basement on an island in Canada.

» More about Arianne

Each tutorial at Real Python is created by a team of developers so that it meets our high quality standards. The team members who worked on this tutorial are:

« Browse All Courses