The default console REPL does not have syntax highlighting. However The IDLE IDE that ships with CPython has a syntax-highlighting REPL (interactive shell).
IPython 5 also has syntax highlighting in REPL:
(source: jupyter.org)
Real Python
realpython.com › python-repl-autocompletion-highlighting
Python 3.14: REPL Autocompletion and Highlighting – Real Python
September 17, 2025 - The REPL now highlights Python syntax in real time as you type code. This feature enhances readability and makes it easier to identify different elements of Python code, including keywords, strings, comments, and other syntax elements.
Real Python
realpython.com › python-repl
The Python Standard REPL: Try Out Code and Ideas Quickly – Real Python
November 12, 2025 - ... Python 3.14 introduced live syntax highlighting in the standard REPL. This means that as you type, keywords, strings, numbers, operators, and other syntax tokens are colored in terminals that support ANSI escape codes.
Python REPL with syntax highlighting, autocomplete and multiline editing
Already mentioned on the thread somewhere else is an issue with autocompletion on imported modules, but that sounds like a bug that will be fixed · I'm using the ipython mode and there are a couple of differences. For example I'm used to typing 'hist -l 100' to see the recent history, now ... More on news.ycombinator.com
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October 3, 2014Syntax highlighting language request: Python REPL - Meta Stack Exchange
Highlight.js treats Python REPL (the Python interpreter in interactive mode) as its own language separate from Python—it uses the class names python-repl and pycon. I checked Stack Exchange's highl... More on meta.stackexchange.com
python - Color-coded syntax in terminal - Stack Overflow
See superuser.com/questions/1011482/…. And I don't think you can syntax-highlight Python unless the REPL colors it for you. More on stackoverflow.com
Python REPL (interactive shell) with syntax highlighting, fast autocompletion and multiline editing.
Why another python shell , when Ipython is much more than a python shell. More on reddit.com
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September 29, 2014Python
peps.python.org › pep-0762
PEP 762 – REPL-acing the default REPL | peps.python.org
October 11, 2024 - This PEP describes the new implementation of this functionality written in Python. The new REPL released in Python 3.13 aims to provide modern features expected by today’s users, such as multi-line editing, syntax highlighting, custom commands, and an overall improved interactive experience.
GitHub
github.com › prompt-toolkit › ptpython
GitHub - prompt-toolkit/ptpython: A better Python REPL · GitHub
Ptpython is an advanced Python REPL. It should work on all Python versions from 2.6 up to 3.11 and work cross platform (Linux, BSD, OS X and Windows). Note: this version of ptpython requires at least Python 3.6. Install ptpython 2.0.5 for older Python versions. ... Start it by typing ptpython. Syntax highlighting...
Starred by 5.4K users
Forked by 290 users
Languages Python
Hacker News
news.ycombinator.com › item
Python REPL with syntax highlighting, autocomplete and multiline editing | Hacker News
October 3, 2014 - Already mentioned on the thread somewhere else is an issue with autocompletion on imported modules, but that sounds like a bug that will be fixed · I'm using the ipython mode and there are a couple of differences. For example I'm used to typing 'hist -l 100' to see the recent history, now ...
Stack Exchange
meta.stackexchange.com › questions › 355221 › syntax-highlighting-language-request-python-repl
Syntax highlighting language request: Python REPL - Meta Stack Exchange
October 10, 2020 - Also, as @Luuklag insightfully pointed out, nearly all questions tagged "python-interactive" are also tagged "python", so if Python REPL highlight.js support is added, it would probably be best not to add default highlighting to the "python-interactive" tag, because the highlighter only adds default highlighting when there is exactly one tag with a language set used.
Replit Docs
docs.replit.com › replit-workspace › themes › syntax-highlighting
Syntax Highlighting
Thanks to Custom Themes, you can now customize syntax highlighting to your liking! Usually this color is applied when you use or define a variable in which no declaration keyword is used. const message = "Hello World"; console.log(message); // "message" on this line gets highlighted · message = "hello python" # no declaration keyword like "const" is used, so 'message' is colored here print(message) # and during usage
Reddit
reddit.com › r/python › python repl (interactive shell) with syntax highlighting, fast autocompletion and multiline editing.
r/Python on Reddit: Python REPL (interactive shell) with syntax highlighting, fast autocompletion and multiline editing.
September 29, 2014 - And the problem there is that readline does not support decent multiline editing or syntax highlighting. This library (mostly) solves just that part, reading the input from stdin and returning it to the application. So, it is already perfectly possible to use IPython, but with this as a better front-end for IPython: https://github.com/jonathanslenders/python-prompt-toolkit/blob/master/bin/ptipython · I hope that answers your question. Reply ·
Top answer 1 of 2
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You should probably have searched a little bit more first, because there are many answers here about this. Perhaps the best ones are:
- bpython [NOT on Windows without hack.]
- ipython
- Change Python interactive prompt ">>>"
- Some characters stick to my colorized prompt in Python cmd
- Adding colors in python interpreter prompt, does not wrap properly
- How to fix column calculation in Python readline if using color prompt
Other Attmepts to improve the python REPL:
- https://github.com/prompt-toolkit/ptpython - A python package
However, I find PtPython trying to do too much, and thus have a bloated dependency structure on: appdirs, jedi, prompt_toolkit, pygments, and indirectly to tox, wcwidth, parso, and possibly more, which is why I prefer my own no-nonsense 3-line ~/.pyrc solution for trivial changes as asked in this question.
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As of Python 3.13 (although improved in 3.14) the Python REPL now supports colour, see here.
Besides the REPL you ask about, 3.14 also brought colour to the output from a few standard library CLIs and PDB's output, see What's new in Python 3.14
GitHub
github.com › python › cpython › issues › 131507
Syntax highlighting in PyREPL · Issue #131507 · python/cpython
March 20, 2025 - We want PyREPL to syntax highlight Python code, like this: Theming support is planned, but a separate concern. This issue is about enabling syntax to highlight correctly whenever color is used within the REPL anyway. This is a feature fo...
Author ambv
Trey Hunner
treyhunner.com › 2025 › 09 › customizing-your-python-repl-color-scheme
Customizing your Python REPL's color scheme (Python 3.14+)
September 4, 2025 - Did you know that Python 3.14 will include syntax highlighting in the REPL? Python 3.14 is due to be officially released in about a month. I …
Reddit
reddit.com › r/zsh › can i get syntax highlighting for python shell?
r/zsh on Reddit: can I get syntax highlighting for python shell?
June 3, 2022 -
basically the title, is it possible to get syntax highlighting in the python shell when using it in the command line?
Real Python
realpython.com › bpython-alternative-python-repl
Discover bpython: A Python REPL With IDE-Like Features – Real Python
December 1, 2023 - In bpython, you get both features out of the box, even though it’s only a text-based user interface (TUI) to the Python REPL. Colorful syntax highlighting helps you identify the structure of your code at a glance, while bracket matching makes it easier to keep the opening and closing brackets correctly balanced.
Real Python
realpython.com › preview › python-repl-autocompletion-highlighting
Python 3.14 Preview: REPL Autocompletion and Highlighting – Real Python
The REPL highlights Python syntax in real time if your terminal supports ANSI colors.
mypython
asmeurer.com › mypython
mypython | A Python REPL the way I like it
It took under an hour to create a basic Python REPL, and only a few days to add most of the features I like to it. REPLs created with prompt-toolkit are really nice. They support advanced features like syntax highlighting, multiline editing, and popup tab completion without any additional work ...
Medium
medium.com › pyzilla › python-3-14-repl-autocompletion-syntax-highlighting-eef9f419c17c
Python 3.14 REPL Gets Smarter: Autocompletion & Syntax Colors You’ll Love | by Azeem Teli | PyZilla | Python | Medium
September 26, 2025 - Discover Python 3.14’s REPL magic: smart autocompletion & vibrant syntax highlighting. Learn how to use, customize, or disable these new features.
YouTube
youtube.com › watch
How to set up Python code highlighting in your terminal? - YouTube
https://dbader.org/python-tricks ► Python's advanced features unleashedPython dev question I got on YouTube:"Dan how did you set up Python syntax highlightin...
Published October 10, 2017
Visual Studio Marketplace
marketplace.visualstudio.com › items
Markdown Python REPL syntax support - Visual Studio Marketplace
Extension for Visual Studio Code - Syntax highlight for ```python-repl
Dr-saad-la
dr-saad-la.github.io › python-distilled › chap-01 › 03-python-repls.html
Python REPLs — Python Programming Distilled
Overview: IPython is an enhanced Python interactive shell that offers advanced features such as syntax highlighting, better autocompletion, and magic commands. ... Syntax highlighting for easier reading of code. Rich autocompletion, making it easier to explore objects and modules. Magic commands (%magic) for tasks like timing code, running system commands, and more. ... Overview: bpython is a lightweight REPL with additional features like inline syntax highlighting, autocompletion, and function signatures.