What is __pycache__?

__pycache__ is a directory that is automatically created by Python to store compiled bytecode files (.pyc) when a Python script is run. These compiled bytecode files are created to improve the performance of the Python interpreter by avoiding the need to recompile the source code each time the script is run. The __pycache__ directory is typically generated in the same directory as the source file and is hidden from view by default.

The __pycache__ directory is automatically managed by Python and users generally do not need to interact with it directly. The bytecode files contained within the directory are automatically updated when changes are made to the corresponding source code files.

It is safe to delete the __pycache__ directory if desired, as Python will recreate it when the script is run again. However, deleting the directory will trigger the Python interpreter to recompile the source code, which may result in a slight performance decrease the next time the script is run.