Python:readline

lastmod 2026-11-10created 2015-12-193 edits

readline is a Python standard library module that provides an interface to the GNU readline library. It enables line editing, command history, and tab completion in the interactive interpreter and in input() calls, and is used together with the rlcompleter module. Functions for reading and writing history files let input history persist across sessions.

Interactive Input

• 13. Interactive Input Editing and History Substitution

import atexit
import os
import readline
import rlcompleter

historyPath = os.path.expanduser("~/.pyhistory")

def save_history(historyPath=historyPath):
    import readline
    readline.write_history_file(historyPath)

if os.path.exists(historyPath):
    readline.read_history_file(historyPath)

atexit.register(save_history)
del os, atexit, readline, rlcompleter, save_history, historyPath

See also

• Python