hardbyte/python-can

The can package provides controller area network support for Python developers

Python

1,604

2,468 commits

updated Jul 1, 2026

See the code

README

python-can
==========

|pypi| |conda| |python_implementation| |downloads| |downloads_monthly|

|docs| |github-actions| |coverage| |formatter|

.. |pypi| image:: https://img.shields.io/pypi/v/python-can.svg
   :target: https://pypi.python.org/pypi/python-can/
   :alt: Latest Version on PyPi

.. |conda| image:: https://img.shields.io/conda/v/conda-forge/python-can
   :target: https://github.com/conda-forge/python-can-feedstock
   :alt: Latest Version on conda-forge

.. |python_implementation| image:: https://img.shields.io/pypi/implementation/python-can
   :target: https://pypi.python.org/pypi/python-can/
   :alt: Supported Python implementations

.. |downloads| image:: https://static.pepy.tech/badge/python-can
   :target: https://pepy.tech/project/python-can
   :alt: Downloads on PePy

.. |downloads_monthly| image:: https://static.pepy.tech/badge/python-can/month
   :target: https://pepy.tech/project/python-can
   :alt: Monthly downloads on PePy

.. |formatter| image:: https://img.shields.io/badge/code%20style-black-000000.svg
   :target: https://github.com/python/black
   :alt: This project uses the black formatter.

.. |docs| image:: https://readthedocs.org/projects/python-can/badge/?version=stable
   :target: https://python-can.readthedocs.io/en/stable/
   :alt: Documentation

.. |github-actions| image:: https://github.com/hardbyte/python-can/actions/workflows/ci.yml/badge.svg
   :target: https://github.com/hardbyte/python-can/actions/workflows/ci.yml
   :alt: Github Actions workflow status

.. |coverage| image:: https://coveralls.io/repos/github/hardbyte/python-can/badge.svg?branch=main
   :target: https://coveralls.io/github/hardbyte/python-can?branch=main
   :alt: Test coverage reports on Coveralls.io

The **C**\ ontroller **A**\ rea **N**\ etwork is a bus standard designed
to allow microcontrollers and devices to communicate with each other. It
has priority based bus arbitration and reliable deterministic
communication. It is used in cars, trucks, boats, wheelchairs and more.

The ``can`` package provides controller area network support for
Python developers; providing common abstractions to
different hardware devices, and a suite of utilities for sending and receiving
messages on a can bus.

The library currently supports CPython as well as PyPy and runs on Mac, Linux and Windows.

==============================  ===========
Library Version                 Python
------------------------------  -----------
  2.x                           2.6+, 3.4+
  3.x                           2.7+, 3.5+
  4.0+                          3.7+
  4.3+                          3.8+
  4.6+                          3.9+
  main branch                   3.10+
==============================  ===========


Features
--------

- common abstractions for CAN communication
- support for many different backends (see the `docs <https://python-can.readthedocs.io/en/stable/interfaces.html>`__)
- receiving, sending, and periodically sending messages
- normal and extended arbitration IDs
- `CAN FD <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CAN_FD>`__ support
- many different loggers and readers supporting playback: ASC (CANalyzer format), BLF (Binary Logging Format by Vector), MF4 (Measurement Data Format v4 by ASAM), TRC, CSV, SQLite, and Canutils log
- efficient in-kernel or in-hardware filtering of messages on supported interfaces
- bus configuration reading from a file or from environment variables
- command line tools for working with CAN buses (see the `docs <https://python-can.readthedocs.io/en/stable/scripts.html>`__)
- more


Example usage
-------------

``pip install python-can``

.. code:: python

    # import the library
    import can

    # create a bus instance using 'with' statement,
    # this will cause bus.shutdown() to be called on the block exit;
    # many other interfaces are supported as well (see documentation)
    with can.Bus(interface='socketcan',
                  channel='vcan0',
                  receive_own_messages=True) as bus:

       # send a message
       message = can.Message(arbitration_id=123, is_extended_id=True,
                             data=[0x11, 0x22, 0x33])
       bus.send(message, timeout=0.2)

       # iterate over received messages
       for msg in bus:
           print(f"{msg.arbitration_id:X}: {msg.data}")

       # or use an asynchronous notifier
       notifier = can.Notifier(bus, [can.Logger("recorded.log"), can.Printer()])

You can find more information in the documentation, online at
`python-can.readthedocs.org <https://python-can.readthedocs.org/en/stable/>`__.


Discussion
----------

If you run into bugs, you can file them in our
`issue tracker <https://github.com/hardbyte/python-can/issues>`__ on GitHub.

`Stackoverflow <https://stackoverflow.com/questions/tagged/can+python>`__ has several
questions and answers tagged with ``python+can``.

Wherever we interact, we strive to follow the
`Python Community Code of Conduct <https://www.python.org/psf/codeofconduct/>`__.


Contributing
------------

See `doc/development.rst <doc/development.rst>`__ for getting started.

Not written in Markdown, so it's shown here as plain text — view it formatted on GitHub.

can-bus
python

hardbyte/python-can

The can package provides controller area network support for Python developers

Python

1,604

2,468 commits

updated Jul 1, 2026

See the code

README

python-can
==========

|pypi| |conda| |python_implementation| |downloads| |downloads_monthly|

|docs| |github-actions| |coverage| |formatter|

.. |pypi| image:: https://img.shields.io/pypi/v/python-can.svg
   :target: https://pypi.python.org/pypi/python-can/
   :alt: Latest Version on PyPi

.. |conda| image:: https://img.shields.io/conda/v/conda-forge/python-can
   :target: https://github.com/conda-forge/python-can-feedstock
   :alt: Latest Version on conda-forge

.. |python_implementation| image:: https://img.shields.io/pypi/implementation/python-can
   :target: https://pypi.python.org/pypi/python-can/
   :alt: Supported Python implementations

.. |downloads| image:: https://static.pepy.tech/badge/python-can
   :target: https://pepy.tech/project/python-can
   :alt: Downloads on PePy

.. |downloads_monthly| image:: https://static.pepy.tech/badge/python-can/month
   :target: https://pepy.tech/project/python-can
   :alt: Monthly downloads on PePy

.. |formatter| image:: https://img.shields.io/badge/code%20style-black-000000.svg
   :target: https://github.com/python/black
   :alt: This project uses the black formatter.

.. |docs| image:: https://readthedocs.org/projects/python-can/badge/?version=stable
   :target: https://python-can.readthedocs.io/en/stable/
   :alt: Documentation

.. |github-actions| image:: https://github.com/hardbyte/python-can/actions/workflows/ci.yml/badge.svg
   :target: https://github.com/hardbyte/python-can/actions/workflows/ci.yml
   :alt: Github Actions workflow status

.. |coverage| image:: https://coveralls.io/repos/github/hardbyte/python-can/badge.svg?branch=main
   :target: https://coveralls.io/github/hardbyte/python-can?branch=main
   :alt: Test coverage reports on Coveralls.io

The **C**\ ontroller **A**\ rea **N**\ etwork is a bus standard designed
to allow microcontrollers and devices to communicate with each other. It
has priority based bus arbitration and reliable deterministic
communication. It is used in cars, trucks, boats, wheelchairs and more.

The ``can`` package provides controller area network support for
Python developers; providing common abstractions to
different hardware devices, and a suite of utilities for sending and receiving
messages on a can bus.

The library currently supports CPython as well as PyPy and runs on Mac, Linux and Windows.

==============================  ===========
Library Version                 Python
------------------------------  -----------
  2.x                           2.6+, 3.4+
  3.x                           2.7+, 3.5+
  4.0+                          3.7+
  4.3+                          3.8+
  4.6+                          3.9+
  main branch                   3.10+
==============================  ===========


Features
--------

- common abstractions for CAN communication
- support for many different backends (see the `docs <https://python-can.readthedocs.io/en/stable/interfaces.html>`__)
- receiving, sending, and periodically sending messages
- normal and extended arbitration IDs
- `CAN FD <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CAN_FD>`__ support
- many different loggers and readers supporting playback: ASC (CANalyzer format), BLF (Binary Logging Format by Vector), MF4 (Measurement Data Format v4 by ASAM), TRC, CSV, SQLite, and Canutils log
- efficient in-kernel or in-hardware filtering of messages on supported interfaces
- bus configuration reading from a file or from environment variables
- command line tools for working with CAN buses (see the `docs <https://python-can.readthedocs.io/en/stable/scripts.html>`__)
- more


Example usage
-------------

``pip install python-can``

.. code:: python

    # import the library
    import can

    # create a bus instance using 'with' statement,
    # this will cause bus.shutdown() to be called on the block exit;
    # many other interfaces are supported as well (see documentation)
    with can.Bus(interface='socketcan',
                  channel='vcan0',
                  receive_own_messages=True) as bus:

       # send a message
       message = can.Message(arbitration_id=123, is_extended_id=True,
                             data=[0x11, 0x22, 0x33])
       bus.send(message, timeout=0.2)

       # iterate over received messages
       for msg in bus:
           print(f"{msg.arbitration_id:X}: {msg.data}")

       # or use an asynchronous notifier
       notifier = can.Notifier(bus, [can.Logger("recorded.log"), can.Printer()])

You can find more information in the documentation, online at
`python-can.readthedocs.org <https://python-can.readthedocs.org/en/stable/>`__.


Discussion
----------

If you run into bugs, you can file them in our
`issue tracker <https://github.com/hardbyte/python-can/issues>`__ on GitHub.

`Stackoverflow <https://stackoverflow.com/questions/tagged/can+python>`__ has several
questions and answers tagged with ``python+can``.

Wherever we interact, we strive to follow the
`Python Community Code of Conduct <https://www.python.org/psf/codeofconduct/>`__.


Contributing
------------

See `doc/development.rst <doc/development.rst>`__ for getting started.

Not written in Markdown, so it's shown here as plain text — view it formatted on GitHub.

can-bus
python

Project health

Overall

3.4/10

Maintained

0/10

Code review

6/10
OpenSSF Scorecard

Latest release

4.6.1 · Aug 12, 2025

Releases this year

0

Significant stargazers

Lior Kogan

20 followers · starred Jun 2020

Mike Naberezny

245 followers · starred Jan 2017

Erlend E. Aasland

121 followers · starred May 2024

Carlos Holguera

208 followers · starred Jun 2021