What is Python GUI Programming – Python Tkinter Tutorial

In this Python tutorial, we will discuss different interfaces that we can use to develop a Python GUI (graphical user interface). Also, we will see many options for Python GUI Programming; of these, we will focus on Python Tkinter. Moreover, in this Python Tkinter tutorial for Python 3, we will discuss Tkinter with its 19 kinds of widgets. Along with this, we are going to learn the Tkinter download process. 

So, let’s begin Python GUI Tkinter.

Python GUI Programming with Python  Tkinter

Alternatives For Python GUI Programming

The following are options for Python GUI Programming. We may use one of the following alternatives for programming a Python GUI:
Python Lambda Expressions with Syntax and Examples

Options For Python GUI Programming

a. Python Tkinter

Python ships with the Tk GUI toolkit. Tkinter is an interface to this.

b. Python PyQt

A Python binding of the cross-platform GUI toolkit Qt, PyQt, is implemented as a plug-in for Python.

c. Python wxPython

wxWidgets is a cross-platform GUI API for Python; wxPython is a wrapper for this.

What is Python Tkinter?

Tkinter in Python GUI Programming is a standard Python GUI library. It gives us an object-oriented interface to the Tk GUI toolkit.

So, let’s start Python graphics, let’s create a simple GUI application:

• Import the module Tkinter.
• Create the main window for the application.
• Add a widget or more.
• Enter the main event loop to deal with an event when it is triggered.

7 Reasons Why Should You Learn Python in 2018

>>> import tkinter
>>> top=tkinter.Tk()
>>> top.mainloop()

Now, this creates the following window:

Python GUI Tkinter- Creating Simple GUI Application

Python Tkinter Widgets

Tkinter in Python GUI Programming provides 19 kinds of widgets (controls)- buttons, labels, and more. Let’s discuss these Python Tkinter widgets in detail.

1. Button in Python Tkinter

You can add a button to your application.

>>> from tkinter import *
>>> top=Tk()
>>> top.geometry('600x200'
''
>>> def helloCallBack():
msg=messagebox.showinfo("Hello, User","Hello, Guest")
>>> B=Button(top,text="Initiate",command=helloCallBack)
>>> B.place(x=300,y=100)

Python GUI Tkinter- Adding Button to application

Now, Clicking on the Initiate button gives us this:

Python GUI Tkinter

2. Canvas in Python Tkinter

A Canvas in Tkinter Python GUI Programming will let you draw shapes- lines, polygons, ovals, and more.
Explore Python Functions with Syntax and Examples

>>> from tkinter import *
>>> from tkinter import messagebox
>>> top=Tk()
>>> C=Canvas(top,bg="cyan",height=100,width=100)
>>> coord=10,50,90,70
>>> arc=C.create_arc(coord,start=0,extent=97,fill='black')
>>> line=C.create_line(10,10,50,70,fill='white')
>>> C.pack()

Python GUI Tkinter- Canvas

3. Checkbutton in Python Tkinter

A Checkbutton is an option that a user can choose to select or leave. They can select as many checkboxes at once as they want to.
Explore 13 Unique Features of Python Programming Language

>>> from tkinter import *
>>> top=Tk()
>>> CheckVar1=IntVar()
>>> CheckVar2=IntVar()
>>> C1=Checkbutton
>>> C1=Checkbutton(top,text="Pizza",variable=CheckVar1,onvalue=1,offvalue=0,height=5,width=20)
>>> C2=Checkbutton(top,text="Fries",variable=CheckVar2,onvalue=1,offvalue=0,height=5,width=20)
>>> C1.pack()
>>> C2.pack()

Python GUI Tkinter- Checkbutton

4. Entry in Python Tkinter

Next, this lets us add a single-line input tray for taking input from the user.

>>> from tkinter import *
>>> top=Tk()
>>> L1=Label(top,text="Enrolment Number")
>>> L1.pack(side=LEFT)
>>> E1=Entry(top,bd=3)
>>> E1.pack(side=RIGHT)

Python GUI Tkinter- Entry

5. Frame in Python Tkinter

Generally, a frame is a container widget to help hold other widgets.

>>> from tkinter import *
>>> top=Tk()
>>> frame=Frame(top)
>>> frame.pack()
>>> frametwo=Frame(top)
>>> frametwo.pack(side=BOTTOM)
>>> redbutton=Button(frame,text="One",fg="red")
>>> redbutton.pack(side=LEFT)
>>> bluebutton=Button(frame,text="Two",fg="blue")
>>> bluebutton.pack(side=LEFT)
>>> greenbutton=Button(frametwo,text="Three",fg="green")
>>> greenbutton.pack(side=BOTTOM)

Python GUI Tkinter- Frame

6. Label in Python Tkinter

Basically, this lets us add a single-line caption for other widgets. We saw this in section 4d.

7. Listbox in Python Tkinter

This widget lets us add a list of options for the user to choose from.

>>> from tkinter import *
>>> top=Tk()
>>> LB1=Listbox(top)
>>> LB1.insert(1,"Hindi")
>>> LB1.insert(2,"Romanian")
>>> LB1.insert(3,"English")
>>> LB1.insert(4,"Gujarati")
>>> LB1.pack()

Python GUI Tkinter- Listbox

8. Menu button in Python Tkinter

This lets us add a menu button anywhere in our application.
Python Number Types and Their Conversion Functions

>>> from tkinter import *
>>> top=Tk()
>>> mb=Menubutton(top,text="style",relief=RAISED)
>>> mb.grid()
>>> mb.menu=Menu(mb,tearoff=0)
>>> mb["menu"]=mb.menu
>>> balayageVar=IntVar()
>>> sombreVar=IntVar()
>>> mb.menu.add_checkbutton(label='Balayage',variable=balayageVar)
>>> mb.menu.add_checkbutton(label='Sombre',variable=sombreVar)
>>> mb.pack()

Python GUI Tkinter- Add a Menu Button

Clicking on this button does this:

An output of Adding a Menu Button

9. Menu in Python Tkinter

This lets us put all kinds of menus in our application.

>>> from tkinter import *
>>> def donothing():
filewin=Toplevel(top)
button=Button(filewin,text="This does nothing")
button.pack()
>>> top=Tk()
>>> menubar=Menu(top)
>>> filemenu=Menu(menubar,tearoff=0)
>>> filemenu.add_command(label="New",command=donothing)
>>> filemenu.add_command(label="Open",command=donothing)
>>> filemenu.add_command(label="Save",command=donothing)
>>> filemenu.add_command(label="Close",command=donothing)
>>> filemenu.add_separator()
>>> filemenu.add_command(label="Exit",command=top.quit)
>>> menubar.add_cascade(label="File",menu=filemenu)
>>> editmenu=Menu(menubar,tearoff=0)
>>> editmenu.add_command(label="Undo",command=donothing)
>>> editmenu.add_separator()
>>> editmenu.add_command(label="Cut",command=donothing)
>>> editmenu.add_command(label="Copy",command=donothing)
>>> editmenu.add_command(label="Paste",command=donothing
>>> editmenu.add_command(label="Delete",command=donothing)
>>> menubar.add_cascade(label="Edit",menu=editmenu)
>>> top.config(menu=menubar)
>>> top.mainloop()

Python GUI Tkinter- Message

Read Loops in Python with Syntax and Examples

10. Radiobutton in Python Tkinter

When a user has a few choices of radio buttons, they may only choose one at once.

>>> from tkinter import *
>>> def sel():
selection=f"Enjoy your {var.get()}"
label.config(text=selection)
>>> top=Tk()
>>> var=StringVar()
>>> R1=Radiobutton(top,text="pizza slice",variable=var,value='pizza',command=sel
>>> R1.pack(anchor=W)
>>> R2=Radiobutton(top,text="burger",variable=var,value='burger',command=sel)
>>> R2.pack(anchor=W)
>>> R3=Radiobutton(top,text="fries",variable=var,value='fries',command=sel)
>>> R3.pack(anchor=W)
>>> label=Label(top)
>>> label.pack()

Python GUI Programming with Tkinter- Radiobutton

11. Scale in Python Tkinter

The scale widget provides a slider.

>>> from tkinter import *
>>> def sel():
selection=f"Volume: {str(var.get())}"
label.config(text=selection)
>>> top=Tk()
>>> var=DoubleVar()
>>> scale=Scale(top,variable=var)
>>> scale.pack(anchor=CENTER)
>>> button=Button(top,text="Get scale value",command=sel)
>>> button.pack(anchor=CENTER)
>>> label=Label(top)
>>> label.pack()

Python GUI Tkinter Programming- Scale

12. Scrollbar in Python Tkinter

This adds scrolling capability to other widgets like lists.

Have a Look At Python Decision Making Statements with Syntax 

>>> from tkinter import *
>>> top=Tk()
>>> scrollbar=Scrollbar(top)
>>> scrollbar.pack(side=RIGHT,fill=X)
>>> scrollbar.pack(side=RIGHT,fill=Y)
>>> list=Listbox(top,yscrollcommand=scrollbar.set)
>>> for line in range(22):
list.insert(END,f"Line {str(line)}")
>>> list.pack(side=LEFT,fill=BOTH)
>>> scrollbar.config(command=list.yview)

Python 3 GUI Tkinter- Scrollbar

13. Text in Python Tkinter

This displays text in multiple lines.

>>> from tkinter import *
>>> top=Tk()
>>> text=Text(top)
>>> text.insert(INSERT,"One.")
>>> text.insert(END,"Two..Three...")
>>> text.pack()
>>> text.tag_add("first","1.0","1.4")
>>> text.tag_add("second","1.10","1.14")
>>> text.tag_config("first",background="cyan",foreground="black")
>>> text.tag_config("second",background="black",foreground="white")

Python GUI Tkinter- Text

14. Toplevel in Python Tkinter

This provides a separate window container.

>>> from tkinter import *
>>> main=Tk()
>>> main.title("My Piano")
''
>>> new=Toplevel()
>>> new.title("New Song")
''

Tkinter Tutorial Python 3- Toplevel

15. Spinbox in Python Tkinter

Basically, Spinbox is like an entry field, except it lets us select from a fixed number of values.

Python Variables and Data Types with Syntax and Examples

>>> from tkinter import *
>>> top=Tk()
>>> s=Spinbox(top,from_=0,to=18)
>>> s.pack()

Spinbox

Tkinter Widgets in Python GUI Programming

16. PanedWindow in Python Tkinter

This is a container widget that can hold any number of panes horizontally or vertically.

>>> from tkinter import *
>>> w1=PanedWindow()
>>> w1.pack(fill=BOTH, expand=1)
>>> left=Entry(w1,bd=5)
>>> w1.add(left)
>>> w2=PanedWindow(w1,orient=VERTICAL)
>>> w1.add(w2)
>>> top=Scale(w2,orient=HORIZONTAL)
>>> w2.add(top)
>>> bottom=Button(w2,text="OK")
>>> w2.add(bottom)

Python GUI Tkinter- PanedWindow

17. LabelFrame in Python Tkinter

So, this is a container widget holding complex window layouts.

>>> from tkinter import *
>>> top=Tk()
>>> labelframe=LabelFrame(top,text="Lyrics")
>>> labelframe.pack(fill="both",expand="yes")
>>> left=Label(labelframe,text="No lyrics available")
>>> left.pack()

Python GUI Tkinter- LabelFrame

18. tkMessageBox in Python Tkinter

This widget displays a message box.

>>> from tkinter import *
>>> from tkinter import messagebox
>>> top=Tk()
>>> def clickhere():
messagebox.showinfo("Click here","You just got owned")
>>> button=Button(top,text="Click here",command=clickhere)
>>> button.place(x=50,y=77)

tkMessageBox in Tkinter

Python GUI Programming with Tkinter

So, this was all about Python GUI Programming. Hope you like our explanation of the Tkinter Tutorial in Python 3.
Data Structures in Python – Lists, Tuples, Sets, Dictionaries

Conclusion

Hence, we completed the Python Tkinter tutorial. Now, it is time to get started with Python GUI programming. In addition, we saw Python GUI Programming and an alternative to Python GUI Programming. Moreover, we discussed Tkinter and widgets. At last, we learned about the different kinds of widgets that Tinker provides. Furthermore, for any query regarding Python GUI Programming with Tkinter, feel free to ask in the comment section.
For reference