1 .. _extending-index: 2 3 ################################################## 4 Extending and Embedding the Python Interpreter 5 ################################################## 6 7 This document describes how to write modules in C or C++ to extend the Python 8 interpreter with new modules. Those modules can not only define new functions 9 but also new object types and their methods. The document also describes how 10 to embed the Python interpreter in another application, for use as an extension 11 language. Finally, it shows how to compile and link extension modules so that 12 they can be loaded dynamically (at run time) into the interpreter, if the 13 underlying operating system supports this feature. 14 15 This document assumes basic knowledge about Python. For an informal 16 introduction to the language, see :ref:`tutorial-index`. :ref:`reference-index` 17 gives a more formal definition of the language. :ref:`library-index` documents 18 the existing object types, functions and modules (both built-in and written in 19 Python) that give the language its wide application range. 20 21 For 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
