PySide

PySide is a set of Python bindings for the Qt application framework, enabling Python developers to create cross-platform graphical user interfaces using Qt’s widgets, graphics, and Qt Quick. As part of the Qt for Python initiative, PySide exposes Qt APIs to Python and is maintained by The Qt Company.

Historically, PySide originated in 2009 as Nokia’s official Python bindings for Qt. After periods of limited maintenance, The Qt Company released PySide2 for Qt 5 in 2018 and PySide6 for Qt 6 as part of Qt for Python, with the package names PySide2 and PySide6 corresponding to the Qt 5 and Qt 6 bindings, respectively.

Features include access to Qt modules such as QtWidgets, QtGui, QtCore, and QtQuick, supporting the signal and slot mechanism, model/view programming, layouts, graphics view, and multimedia. The API mirrors the Qt C++ interface while providing a Pythonic experience, and it can work with UI files generated by Qt Designer.

Installation typically uses Python’s package manager, with pip install PySide2 or pip install PySide6, depending on the Qt version being targeted. PySide applications run on major platforms, including Windows, macOS, and Linux, and can use either traditional widgets or QML-based components.

License-wise, the PySide bindings are distributed under LGPL-compatible licenses, aligning with Qt’s licensing. This differs from PyQt, which is available under GPL or commercial licenses.

See also: PyQt, Qt, Qt for Python.