Python ctypes
Python ctypes is a foreign function interface (FFI) library included in the Python standard library that allows Python code to call functions and access data structures in shared libraries or DLLs written in C or other low-level languages. It provides a way to interface with native code without requiring additional compilation steps, enabling Python programs to leverage existing C libraries or system APIs directly. This makes it useful for tasks like system programming, performance-critical operations, or integrating with legacy codebases.
Developers should learn Python ctypes when they need to interact with C libraries, system calls, or hardware interfaces from Python without writing C extensions or using tools like Cython. It is particularly valuable for tasks such as calling Windows API functions, using low-level system libraries on Unix-like systems, or wrapping existing C libraries for use in Python applications. However, for complex or performance-sensitive projects, alternatives like Cython or cffi might be more suitable due to better safety and ease of use.