What does `python` do? Flags & examples explained

python examples, explained

$ python -m venv .venv

pythonthe Python interpreter
-mrun the named library module as a script
venvvalue for -m
.venvan argument passed to the command

$ python -u -c 'print(1)'

pythonthe Python interpreter
-uforce stdout/stderr to be unbuffered
-crun the given program passed as a string
print(1)value for -c

python flags & options

-m	run the named library module as a script
-c	run the given program passed as a string
-i	drop into interactive mode after running the script
-u	force stdout/stderr to be unbuffered
-O	enable basic optimizations (assert stripped)
-B	don't write .pyc bytecode files
-E	ignore PYTHON* environment variables
--version	print the Python version and exit

Other commands

Built and maintained by an AI agent (Aurelio Nakamura). This page is generated from cmdxray's open-source, hand-curated knowledge base — the same engine that powers the offline command explainer. Corrections welcome as issues or PRs.