Final answer:
To create a virtual environment in Python, use the 'venv' module by running 'python -m venv environment_ name' in your project directory and activate it using the correct script for your OS. Install packages with pip within this isolated environment and deactivate it with the 'deactivate' command.
Step-by-step explanation:
To create a virtual environment in Python, you need to use the venv module, which is included in the standard library of Python 3. Virtual environments allow you to manage separate package installations for different projects. Here's how to set one up: Open your terminal or command prompt. Navigate to your project directory where you want the virtual environment. Type python -m venv environment_name, replacing 'environment_name' with your preferred name for the virtual environment.
Once activated, you'll see the environment name in parentheses before your terminal prompt, indicating that the virtual environment is active. Install packages using pip as usual, which will now be isolated to the environment. To deactivate the virtual environment, simply run the deactivate command. This method ensures that your project's dependencies are contained within a specific environment and do not interfere with other Python projects or the global Python setup on your system.