Skip to content

Jupyter Notebook

Create and share documents that contain live code, equations, visualizations, and narrative text.

Self-hostedNot yet verified
Demo online
BSD-3-Clause

Open the official app on jupyter.org

This tool is hosted by its maintainers. Click below to open jupyter.org in a new tab — it's their official demo.

Browse text & tools tools →

What's next with Jupyter Notebook?

Choose how you want to get started.

Use it free

Open the official tool or demo — no account needed.

Free

Self-host it

Run the open-source version on your own infrastructure.

Open

What is Jupyter Notebook?

Jupyter Notebook is an open-source web application for creating and sharing computational documents that integrate live code, narrative text, mathematical equations, and visualizations. It enables users to author documents that combine executable code with explanatory text, making it ideal for data analysis, scientific research, and educational purposes. The tool is widely used by data scientists, researchers, educators, and developers to prototype algorithms, perform exploratory data analysis, and document workflows. Jupyter Notebook addresses the challenge of integrating code execution with explanatory content, allowing users to share interactive outputs and reproducible results. Its flexibility and support for multiple programming languages make it a cornerstone of computational workflows in academia and industry. The platform solves problems by providing a collaborative environment where code can be executed in real-time, with outputs such as HTML, images, videos, and LaTeX rendered inline. This capability streamlines the process of experimentation, documentation, and knowledge sharing. Jupyter Notebook’s modular design also supports integration with big data tools like Apache Spark and libraries such as pandas and TensorFlow, enabling users to handle complex data tasks. Its simplicity and extensibility have made it a standard tool for teaching programming and data science, as well as for collaborative projects in research and enterprise settings.

How it works

Jupyter Notebook is a web-based interactive computing environment that allows users to create and share documents containing live code, equations, visualizations, and narrative text. It is designed for computational workflows, enabling users to execute code in a structured format and immediately view results. The primary purpose of Jupyter Notebook is to facilitate reproducible research and collaborative problem-solving. It is particularly useful for tasks requiring iterative experimentation, such as data analysis, algorithm development, and teaching programming concepts. Jupyter Notebook supports over 40 programming languages, including Python, R, Julia, and Scala, through its kernel architecture. Users can generate rich outputs like HTML, images, videos, and LaTeX, enhancing the interactivity of computational documents. Integration with big data tools such as Apache Spark and libraries like pandas and TensorFlow allows for advanced data processing and analysis.

How to use it

  1. 1Install Python and pip, then use pip to install Jupyter Notebook: `pip install notebook`. 2. Launch the notebook server with `jupyter notebook`, which opens a web interface in a browser. 3. Create a new notebook by selecting 'New' and choosing a supported kernel. 4. Write and execute code in cells, with outputs displayed inline. Practical tips include using virtual environments for project isolation and leveraging extensions for enhanced functionality.

What it can do

  • interactive notebooks

Use cases

Assumptions and limitations

Assumptions

  • source: https://github.com/jupyter
  • license: BSD-3-Clause — free to use
  • privacy: Self-hosted — you control your data

Limitations

  • Requires a Python environment, limiting accessibility for users without Python installation.
  • Limited real-time collaboration compared to modern alternatives like JupyterLab.
  • Performance may degrade with large datasets or complex computations due to browser-based execution.
  • Extensive customization demands familiarity with configuration files and extensions.
  • Multi-user capabilities are more mature in JupyterLab, making Notebook less suitable for enterprise-scale collaboration.

Understanding the result

Create and share documents that contain live code, equations, visualizations, and narrative text.

Tool details

  • Clearly flagged when a network request is needed.
  • No account, no sign-up, and no tracking of your content.
  • Powered by (BSD-3-Clause).
Built with
(https://github.com/jupyter)
License
BSD-3-Clause
Runs locally
No — requires a network request
Verification
Not yet verified
Input
Query
Output
Text
Open-source source & license

Built with https://github.com/jupyter. OpenToolVault provides the discovery and browser interface while crediting the original project maintainers.

Built with
License
BSD-3-Clause
View source on GitHub

Open-source project

OpenToolVault is an independent directory. We are not affiliated with or endorsed by this project.

References

Frequently asked

What is Jupyter Notebook and what is it used for?

Jupyter Notebook is an open-source web application for creating computational documents that combine live code, narrative text, equations, and visualizations. It is used for data analysis, scientific research, teaching, and collaborative problem-solving. Its ability to execute code and display outputs inline makes it ideal for reproducible research and interactive documentation.

How does Jupyter Notebook handle multiple programming languages?

Jupyter Notebook uses kernels to support multiple languages. Each kernel is a separate process that runs code in a specific language, such as Python or R. When a user selects a kernel, the notebook interface communicates with that kernel to execute code and return results. This architecture allows seamless integration of diverse programming languages within a single document.

How do I run code in a Jupyter Notebook?

To run code, enter it into a code cell and click 'Run' or press Shift+Enter. The code is sent to the selected kernel, which executes it and returns outputs like text, images, or plots directly in the notebook. For example, typing `print('Hello, World!')` and running it will display 'Hello, World!' below the cell.

How does Jupyter Notebook compare to alternatives like JupyterLab or RStudio?

Jupyter Notebook is a classic interface focused on simplicity and document-centric workflows, while JupyterLab offers a more modular, customizable environment with advanced features like drag-and-drop file management. RStudio, on the other hand, is tailored for R programming, providing a dedicated IDE with integrated tools for statistical analysis. Jupyter Notebook excels in multi-language support and computational storytelling, whereas RStudio prioritizes R-specific workflows.

What should I do if my Jupyter Notebook kernel crashes?

If a kernel crashes, restart it by selecting 'Kernel' > 'Restart Kernel' from the menu. If the issue persists, check for conflicts with extensions or incompatible libraries. Ensure all packages are up to date using `pip install --upgrade` or `conda update`. For persistent issues, reinstall the kernel or consult the Jupyter community forums for troubleshooting guidance.

Spotted something wrong with Jupyter Notebook, or want to maintain it? See how to help.