Does python sqlite3 library need sqlite to be installed?

Question

There are Python libraries that allow to communicate with a database. Of course, to use these libraries there should be an installed and running database server on the computer (python cannot communicate with something that does not exist).

My question is whether the above written is applicable to the sqlite3 library. Can one say that this library does not need any database to be installed (and running) on the computer? Can one say that sqlite3 needs only a file system?

Answer 1

SQLite only needs a filesystem, yes, it is not a standalone server. Instead, SQLite is an embedded database. The whole database driver is contained in a shared library loaded together with the Python executable, as needed.

You do need to have the libsqlite3 shared library installed; Python itself only includes the Python integration for that library.

For Ubuntu, for example, you'd install the libsqlite3-0 package; but since the Python package already depends on this this is not something you need to worry about, usually. Mac OS X already comes with the shared library installed, and on Windows I believe the Python Windows installer bundles the library with it. The ActiveState Python Windows distribution certainly does, for example.

If you want to compile Python from source, you'll have to install (at the very least) the SQLite development headers to enable compilation of the sqlite3 package.

Answer 2

No, sqlite package is part of Python standard library and as soon as you have Python installed, you may use sqlite functionality.

MartijnPieters noted, the actual shared library is not technically part of Python (this was my a bit oversimplified answer) but comes as shared library, which has to be installed too.

Practically speaking, if you manage installing Python, you have the sqlite available for your Python code.

As OP asked for for a need to install sqlite separately, I will not speculate on how to install Python, which is not able to work with it.