[Yugabyte Python Driver for YCQL](https://github.com/yugabyte/cassandra-python-driver) is based on [DataStax Python Driver](https://github.com/datastax/python-driver) with additional [smart driver](../../smart-drivers-ycql/) features.
{{< note title="YugabyteDB Aeon" >}}
To use the driver's partition-aware load balancing feature in a YugabyteDB Aeon cluster, applications must be deployed in a VPC that has been peered with the cluster VPC so that they have access to all nodes in the cluster. For more information, refer to [Using YCQL drivers with YugabyteDB Aeon](../../smart-drivers-ycql/#using-ycql-drivers-with-yugabytedb-aeon).
{{< /note >}}
## Install the Yugabyte Python Driver for YCQL
To install the [Yugabyte Python Driver for YCQL](https://github.com/yugabyte/cassandra-python-driver), run the following command:
```sh
$ pip3 install yb-cassandra-driver --install-option="--no-cython"
```
{{< note title="Note">}}
The flag `--no-cython` is necessary on MacOS Catalina and further MacOS releases to avoid a failure while building the `yb-cassandra-driver`.
{{< /note >}}
## Create a sample Python application
### Prerequisites
This tutorial assumes that you have:
- installed YugabyteDB, created a universe, and are able to interact with it using the YCQL shell. If not, follow the steps in [Quick start](/stable/quick-start/macos/).
### Write the sample Python application
Create a file `yb-cql-helloworld.py` and copy the following content into it.
```python
from cassandra.cluster import Cluster
# Create the cluster connection.
cluster = Cluster(['127.0.0.1'])
session = cluster.connect()
# Create the keyspace.
session.execute('CREATE KEYSPACE IF NOT EXISTS ybdemo;')
print("Created keyspace ybdemo")
# Create the table.
session.execute(
"""
CREATE TABLE IF NOT EXISTS ybdemo.employee (id int PRIMARY KEY,
name varchar,
age int,
language varchar);
""")
print("Created table employee")
# Insert a row.
session.execute(
"""
INSERT INTO ybdemo.employee (id, name, age, language)
VALUES (1, 'John', 35, 'Python');
""")
print("Inserted (id, name, age, language) = (1, 'John', 35, 'Python')")
# Query the row.
rows = session.execute('SELECT name, age, language FROM ybdemo.employee WHERE id = 1;')
for row in rows:
print(row.name, row.age, row.language)
# Close the connection.
cluster.shutdown()
```
#### Use SSL
To run the application with SSL, create the cluster connection with additional SSL imports and parameters described as follows:
```python
# Include additional imports.
from ssl import SSLContext, PROTOCOL_TLS_CLIENT, CERT_REQUIRED
from cassandra.auth import PlainTextAuthProvider
# Include additional parameters.
ssl_context = SSLContext(PROTOCOL_TLS_CLIENT)
ssl_context.load_verify_locations('path to certs file')
ssl_context.verify_mode = CERT_REQUIRED
# Create the cluster connection.
cluster = Cluster(contact_points=['ip_address'],
ssl_context=ssl_context,
ssl_options={'server_hostname': 'ip_address'},
auth_provider=PlainTextAuthProvider(username='username', password='password'))
session = cluster.connect()
```
### Run the application
To run the application, type the following:
```sh
$ python3 yb-cql-helloworld.py
```
You should see the following output.
```output
Created keyspace ybdemo
Created table employee
Inserted (id, name, age, language) = (1, 'John', 35, 'Python')
John 35 Python
```