What is a .WHL file?
WHL is a Python wheel, a ready-to-install package. Installed with pip.
- Did you know
- The wheel format, standardised in 2012, made installing Python packages much faster.
- The wheel format replaced the older egg, and since 2023 the Python Package Index rejects egg uploads outright.
- A wheel can be installed by simply unpacking it, with no build step, and carries its metadata in a .dist-info directory.
- Under the hood a .WHL file is really a ZIP archive - rename it to .zip and you can browse the files inside.
- What Analyser reads
- Read software packages and Unix archive streams: Python wheels, NuGet, Chrome/Firefox/VS Code extensions, Electron ASAR, Windows APPX/MSIX, Debian (DEB), RPM, RubyGems, conda, Anki, Microsoft CAB, cpio and ar - showing name, version, dependencies and the file tree.
- Depth of analysis
- .WHL is an identification-grade format: Analyser recognises it from its bytes and decodes the header metadata it carries, rather than opening it in a full viewer. Formats that do get a full viewer are marked "Full" on the formats page.
- Open a .WHL file
- Drag a .WHL file onto the Analyser home page (or tap to pick one). It is identified entirely in your browser - nothing is uploaded, there is no account, and it works offline once installed.