---
title: Python Scripts
description: Instructions on how to setup Python scripts within Home Assistant.
ha_category:
- Automation
ha_release: 0.47
ha_quality_scale: internal
ha_domain: python_script
ha_integration_type: integration
---
This integration allows you to write Python scripts that are exposed as services in Home Assistant. Each Python file created in the `<config>/python_scripts/` folder will be exposed as a service. The content is not cached so you can easily develop: edit file, save changes, call service. The scripts are run in a sandboxed environment. The following variables are available in the sandbox:
| Name | Description |
| ---- | ----------- |
| `hass` | The Home Assistant object. Access is only allowed to call services, set/remove states and fire events. [API reference][hass-api]
| `data` | The data passed to the Python Script service call.
| `logger` | A logger to allow you to log messages: `logger.info()`, `logger.warning()`, `logger.error()`. [API reference][logger-api]
| `time` | The stdlib `time` available as limited access.
| `datetime` | The stdlib `datetime` available as limited access.
| `dt_util` | The ` homeassistant.util.dt` module.
Other imports like `min`, `max` are available as builtins. See the [python_script](https://github.com/home-assistant/core/blob/dev/homeassistant/components/python_script/__init__.py) source code for up-to-date information on the available objects inside the script.
[hass-api]: /developers/development_hass_object/
[logger-api]: https://docs.python.org/3.7/library/logging.html#logger-objects
<div class='note'>
It is not possible to use Python imports with this integration. If you want to do more advanced scripts, you can take a look at [AppDaemon](https://appdaemon.readthedocs.io/en/latest/) or [pyscript](https://github.com/custom-components/pyscript)
</div>
## Writing your first script, reading input and logging the activity
This is a simplified example that does no real work.
It is created as a first step, to help with:
- Demonstrating how to setup the script
- How to process the input data
- How to log the script activity
- How to troubleshoot / manually call the script.
Start by enabling the Python Scripts integration and create the first script.
- Add to `configuration.yaml`: `python_script:`
- Create the folder `<config>/python_scripts`
- Create a file `<config>/python_scripts/hello_world.py` in the folder and give it this content:
```python
# `data` is available as builtin and is a dictionary with the input data.
name = data.get("name", "world")
# `logger` and `time` are available as builtin without the need of explicit import.
logger.info("Hello {} at {}".format(name, time.time()))
```
- Start Home Assistant to reload the script configuration.
- Call your new {% my developer_call_service service="python_script.hello_world" %} service (with parameters) from the {% my developer_services %}, using the YAML mode.
```yaml
service: python_script.hello_world
data:
name: "Input-Text"
```
<div class='note'>
Running this script show absolutely no output on the screen, but it logs with level `info`. You must have the [Logger](/integrations/logger/) enabled at least for level `info`.
Your `configuration.yaml` should include something like this.
```yaml
logger:
default: info
```
</div>
## Triggering events
The following example shows how to trigger a custom event over the `hass.bus`.
This example uses the `hello_world.py` from the previous example.
Edit the file adding the code listed below to the end of the file.
There is no need to reload the configuration or restart Home Assistant.
```python
hass.bus.fire("hello_world_event", {"wow": "from a Python script!"})
```
This script doesn't output anything. However, you can view the events being fired in the Developer tools.
From a separate browser window or tab, go to `Developer Tools -> Events` and at `Listen to events` type `hello_world_event` and then press `Start listening`. You should see something like this:
```yaml
event_type: hello_world_event
data:
wow: from a Python script!
origin: LOCAL
time_fired: "2022-09-19T16:15:39.613378+00:00"
context:
id: 01GDB8H9JXJ1N23Q62SHX6PTBK
parent_id: null
user_id: null
```
## Calling Services
The following example shows how to call a service from `python_script`. This script takes two parameters: `entity_id` (required), `rgb_color` (optional) and calls `light.turn_on` service by setting the brightness value to `255`.
```python
# turn_on_light.py
entity_id = data.get("entity_id")
rgb_color = data.get("rgb_color", [255, 255, 255])
if entity_id is not None:
service_data = {"entity_id": entity_id, "rgb_color": rgb_color, "brightness": 255}
hass.services.call("light", "turn_on", service_data, False)
```
The above `python_script` can be called using the following YAML as an input.
```yaml
- service: python_script.turn_on_light
target:
entity_id: light.bedroom
data:
rgb_color: [255, 0, 0]
```
## Documenting your Python scripts
You can add names and descriptions for your Python scripts that will be shown in the frontend. To do so, simply create a `services.yaml` file in your `<config>/python_scripts` folder. Using the above Python script as an example, the `services.yaml` file would look like:
```yaml
# services.yaml
turn_on_light:
name: Turn on light
description: Turn on a specific light and set its color.
fields:
entity_id:
description: The light that will be turned on.
example: light.bedroom
rgb_color:
description: The color to which the light will be set.
example: [255, 0, 0]
```
For more examples, visit the [Scripts section](https://community.home-assistant.io/c/projects/scripts) in our forum.
## Services
Available services: `reload`.
### Service `python_script.reload`
Reload all available python_scripts from the `<config>/python_scripts` folder, as a quicker alternative to restarting Home Assistant.
Use this when creating a new Python script, or after updating the `<config>/python_scripts/services.yaml` file.
You don't have to call this service when you change an existing Python script.
This service takes no service data attributes.