How to solve modulenotfounderror no module named ‘websocket-client’ in python

In the ever-expanding world of programming, encountering errors and exceptions is a part of the journey. One such common issue faced by many Python developers is the ModuleNotFoundError: No module named ‘websocket-client’. This error can be quite perplexing, especially for those who are new to Python or are just starting to work with libraries. In this article, we will explore various strategies to rectify this issue, ensuring you can use the websocket-client library without any hiccups.

Understanding ModuleNotFoundError

The ModuleNotFoundError in Python indicates that the interpreter is unable to locate the specified module. This can occur due to various reasons:

• The module is not installed.
• The module is installed but not in the correct environment.
• The module name is misspelled.
• Conflicts with other modules or packages.

When you encounter the message No module named ‘websocket-client’, it typically suggests that Python cannot find the websocket-client library within your environment. To fix this issue, you need to ensure that the library is installed and correctly referenced in your Python scripts.

Installing the WebSocket Client

The first step in addressing the ModuleNotFoundError: No module named ‘websocket-client’ error is to install the library. Here’s how you can do it:

Using pip to Install the Library

Python’s package installer, pip, is the most straightforward way to install external libraries like websocket-client. You can install it by following these steps:

1. Open your command line interface (CLI). This could be Command Prompt on Windows, Terminal on macOS, or any terminal emulator on Linux.
2. Run the following command:
3. pip install websocket-client

This command will fetch the websocket-client library from the Python Package Index (PyPI) and install it in your active Python environment.

Setting Up Virtual Environments

One of the most common mistakes developers make is working in the wrong environment. Python allows you to create virtual environments to manage dependencies more effectively. Here’s how to set up a virtual environment and resolve the No module named ‘websocket-client’ issue:

Creating a Virtual Environment

To create a virtual environment, follow these steps:

1. Navigate to your project directory in the CLI.
2. Create a new virtual environment using the following command:
3. python -m venv myenv
4. Activate the virtual environment:

• On Windows: myenvScriptsactivate
• On macOS and Linux: source myenv/bin/activate

By following these steps, you’ll ensure that any libraries, including websocket-client, are confined to this environment, minimizing conflicts with other projects.

Checking the Installation

Once you have installed the library, it’s important to verify that it is correctly installed and available in your Python path. You can do this by running the following command in your Python shell:

import websocket

If you don’t see any error messages, the installation was successful. If you encounter the ModuleNotFoundError: No module named ‘websocket-client’ error again, triple-check that you are in the correct virtual environment where the library is installed.

Common Pitfalls and Solutions

When dealing with Python and its numerous packages, several common pitfalls might lead to the ModuleNotFoundError. Awareness of these can save you time and frustration:

1. Conflicting Python Versions

Many systems come with multiple versions of Python installed. This can lead to confusion as to which version pip is using. Ensure that you are installing the package for the correct version of Python:

• For Python 2: pip2 install websocket-client
• For Python 3: pip3 install websocket-client

2. Misleading Module Name

The library you want to use should be correctly referenced in your imports. The proper way to import the websocket-client module is:

from websocket import create_connection

3. Issues with IDE Configuration

Your Integrated Development Environment (IDE) may be configured to use a different Python interpreter than the one where you installed the websocket-client library. Make sure your IDE is set to the correct interpreter, reflecting the virtual environment if applicable.

4. Network Issues during Installation

Sometimes, network issues can cause an incomplete installation, leading to the ModuleNotFoundError. Ensure that your connection is stable and consider retrying the installation:

pip install --upgrade websocket-client

Running the upgrade command ensures you have the latest version of the library.

Making Use of the WebSocket Client Library

Once you have successfully resolved the ModuleNotFoundError and installed websocket-client, you can start building applications that require real-time web communications. This library is particularly useful for websockets, which allow full-duplex communication channels over a single TCP connection.

Basic Example of Using websocket-client

Here is a simple example demonstrating how to use the websocket-client:


import websocket
def on_message(ws, message):
print("Received message: ", message)
def on_error(ws, error):
print("Error occurred: ", error)
def on_close(ws):
print("Connection closed")
def on_open(ws):
print("Connection opened")
ws.send("Hello, Server!")
websocket_url = "wss://example.com/websocket"
ws = websocket.WebSocketApp(websocket_url,
on_open=on_open,
on_message=on_message,
on_error=on_error,
on_close=on_close)
ws.run_forever()


This code illustrates how to connect to a websocket server, send a message, and handle responses.

By following the suggestions laid out in this article, you can effectively tackle the ModuleNotFoundError: No module named ‘websocket-client’ in Python and enhance your programming skills through the utilization of the websocket-client library.