Libraries That Handle Phone Number Formatting in Python
Posted: Tue May 27, 2025 9:02 am
Handling phone numbers correctly in software applications can be surprisingly complex due to the vast variety of formats, country codes, and local dialing rules. In Python, several libraries are designed to simplify working with phone numbers by providing tools to parse, validate, format, and normalize them. Below are the most popular and effective libraries for phone number formatting in Python.
1. phonenumbers (Google’s libphonenumber port)
Overview: The phonenumbers library is a Python port of Google’s widely acclaimed libphonenumber library, originally written in Java. It is the most popular and comprehensive tool for phone number parsing, validation, formatting, and more.
Key Features:
Parses phone numbers from raw input strings.
Validates phone numbers according to international and national standards.
Formats numbers in various formats: international (E.164), national, RFC3966, etc.
Supports phone number metadata for almost all countries.
Can detect the type of number (mobile, landline, toll-free).
Supports geocoding to guess the region/country of a number.
Example Usage:
python
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import phonenumbers
from phonenumbers import geocoder, carrier
number = phonenumbers.parse("+14155552671", None)
print(phonenumbers.is_valid_number(number)) # True
print(phonenumbers.format_number(number, phonenumbers.PhoneNumberFormat.INTERNATIONAL))
# Output: +1 415-555-2671
print(geocoder.description_for_number(number, "en")) # United States
print(carrier.name_for_number(number, "en")) # Verizon Wireless
Why Use It? This library handles almost all complexities involved in phone numbers globally and is well-maintained.
2. python-phonenumbers
Overview: This is essentially the same as the phonenumbers package mentioned above. It is sometimes referred to by its full name or variations but is the primary Python implementation of libphonenumber.
Where to Get It: Installable via pip:
bash
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pip install phonenumbers
3. validate_phone
Overview: A simpler, lighter package primarily recent mobile phone number data focused on phone number validation and formatting. It’s useful for quick checks but lacks the extensive global data coverage of phonenumbers.
Key Features:
Basic validation for several countries.
Formatting support for national and international formats.
When to Use: When you need lightweight validation and formatting without full global support.
4. phone-iso3166
Overview: This library focuses on linking phone numbers to ISO 3166 country codes. While it doesn't parse or format phone numbers itself, it complements other libraries by helping map country codes to countries.
Use Case: Useful when combined with phonenumbers to provide additional metadata or for country lookups.
5. Custom Regex Approaches
While not a library, some projects use regex to parse and format phone numbers for specific locales or simplified use cases. However, regex-based validation is error-prone and hard to maintain for global coverage, so libraries like phonenumbers are strongly recommended.
Why Is Using a Library Important?
Phone numbers vary widely between countries:
Length varies (from 4 to 15 digits)
Formats differ (spaces, dashes, parentheses)
Country codes and area codes must be respected
Special number types (toll-free, emergency, premium-rate)
Libraries like phonenumbers handle these nuances, reducing bugs and improving user experience.
Conclusion
The most robust and feature-rich Python library for phone number formatting and validation is phonenumbers, the Python port of Google’s libphonenumber. It provides parsing, validation, formatting, and metadata for global phone numbers. For simpler use cases, lighter libraries like validate_phone exist but with limited scope. Avoid using regex-only solutions for comprehensive phone number handling.
1. phonenumbers (Google’s libphonenumber port)
Overview: The phonenumbers library is a Python port of Google’s widely acclaimed libphonenumber library, originally written in Java. It is the most popular and comprehensive tool for phone number parsing, validation, formatting, and more.
Key Features:
Parses phone numbers from raw input strings.
Validates phone numbers according to international and national standards.
Formats numbers in various formats: international (E.164), national, RFC3966, etc.
Supports phone number metadata for almost all countries.
Can detect the type of number (mobile, landline, toll-free).
Supports geocoding to guess the region/country of a number.
Example Usage:
python
Copy
Edit
import phonenumbers
from phonenumbers import geocoder, carrier
number = phonenumbers.parse("+14155552671", None)
print(phonenumbers.is_valid_number(number)) # True
print(phonenumbers.format_number(number, phonenumbers.PhoneNumberFormat.INTERNATIONAL))
# Output: +1 415-555-2671
print(geocoder.description_for_number(number, "en")) # United States
print(carrier.name_for_number(number, "en")) # Verizon Wireless
Why Use It? This library handles almost all complexities involved in phone numbers globally and is well-maintained.
2. python-phonenumbers
Overview: This is essentially the same as the phonenumbers package mentioned above. It is sometimes referred to by its full name or variations but is the primary Python implementation of libphonenumber.
Where to Get It: Installable via pip:
bash
Copy
Edit
pip install phonenumbers
3. validate_phone
Overview: A simpler, lighter package primarily recent mobile phone number data focused on phone number validation and formatting. It’s useful for quick checks but lacks the extensive global data coverage of phonenumbers.
Key Features:
Basic validation for several countries.
Formatting support for national and international formats.
When to Use: When you need lightweight validation and formatting without full global support.
4. phone-iso3166
Overview: This library focuses on linking phone numbers to ISO 3166 country codes. While it doesn't parse or format phone numbers itself, it complements other libraries by helping map country codes to countries.
Use Case: Useful when combined with phonenumbers to provide additional metadata or for country lookups.
5. Custom Regex Approaches
While not a library, some projects use regex to parse and format phone numbers for specific locales or simplified use cases. However, regex-based validation is error-prone and hard to maintain for global coverage, so libraries like phonenumbers are strongly recommended.
Why Is Using a Library Important?
Phone numbers vary widely between countries:
Length varies (from 4 to 15 digits)
Formats differ (spaces, dashes, parentheses)
Country codes and area codes must be respected
Special number types (toll-free, emergency, premium-rate)
Libraries like phonenumbers handle these nuances, reducing bugs and improving user experience.
Conclusion
The most robust and feature-rich Python library for phone number formatting and validation is phonenumbers, the Python port of Google’s libphonenumber. It provides parsing, validation, formatting, and metadata for global phone numbers. For simpler use cases, lighter libraries like validate_phone exist but with limited scope. Avoid using regex-only solutions for comprehensive phone number handling.