Install Hugging Face Transformers in Python

Hugging Face Transformers is a popular library for NLP tasks. It provides pre-trained models for text processing. This guide will help you install it easily.

Prerequisites

Before installing, ensure you have Python 3.6 or higher. You also need pip, the Python package installer. Check your Python version with:

 
# Check Python version
import sys
print(sys.version)

# Output example
3.8.5 (default, Jan 27 2021, 15:41:15)

Step 1: Install Transformers

Use pip to install the library. Run this command in your terminal:

pip install transformers

This will download the latest version. If you face issues, check our guide on ModuleNotFoundError.

Step 2: Verify Installation

After installation, verify it works. Open Python and import the library:

 
# Verify installation
from transformers import pipeline
print("Transformers installed successfully!")

# Output
Transformers installed successfully!

Step 3: Install Optional Dependencies

Some features need extra libraries. Install them with:

pip install torch tensorflow

These are useful for GPU support. Choose based on your needs.

Step 4: Test a Pretrained Model

Try a simple text classification task. Use the pipeline function:

 
# Test a model
classifier = pipeline('sentiment-analysis')
result = classifier("I love using Hugging Face!")
print(result)

# Output
[{'label': 'POSITIVE', 'score': 0.9998}]

Troubleshooting

If you get errors, ensure all dependencies are installed. Common issues include missing libraries. Check the ModuleNotFoundError guide for help.

Conclusion

Installing Hugging Face Transformers is simple. Follow these steps to get started with NLP tasks. Explore the library's powerful features for your projects.