Many actions and workflows available in the Labelbox app can be automated using the Python SDK, which provides access to the Labelbox API.

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Requirements

  • Make sure pip is installed and up-to-date.

  • Use the Workspace settings menu of the Labelbox app to create an API key. Store your key in a safe place, as you cannot view it after it has been created.

  • Python: 3.9 - 3.13

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Install or upgrade SDK

After you create an API key, you can start using our Python SDK.

To install, run either pip install labelbox orpip install "labelbox[data]" in your command line.

pip install "labelbox[data]"
# or
pip install labelbox
ModuleDescription
"labelbox[data]"Installs all required dependencies (libraries, tools to manipulate annotations, and more.)
labelboxInstalls all required libraries for client-only functionality
# install latest labelbox version
!pip install labelbox

import labelbox as lb

# Enter your Labelbox API key here
LB_API_KEY = None

# Create Labelbox client
client = lb.Client(api_key=LB_API_KEY)

To upgrade to the latest version, use your package manager: pip install --upgrade labelbox

To run the Python SDK in a Docker container, use the included Dockerfile as a starting place.

Related info:

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Authentication

You need an API key to authenticate your client. You can:

  • Save your key to an environment variable:

    user@machine:~$ export LABELBOX_API_KEY="<your_api_key>"
user@machine:~$ python3

    Then, import and initialize the API Client.

    import labelbox as lb

client = lb.Client()

  • Paste your API key directly into your script (not recommended)

    import labelbox as lb

if __name__ == '__main__':
    API_KEY = "<your_api_key_here>"
    client = lb.Client(API_KEY)

Remember that your API key authorizes access to Labelbox, your account, and your data assets; treat it as carefully as any other set of credentials, and make sure the scope of the key is set according to the usage is meant for.