Create a Free Currency Converter in Python without API Keys

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Create a Free Currency Converter in Python without API Keys

Python developers looking to implement currency conversion functionality in their applications have a simple and free option available that doesn’t require API keys or rate limits. The ‘simple currency converter’ module provides a straightforward way to fetch live currency rates directly from Google through web scraping.

This third-party module utilizes Beautiful Soup in the background to extract currency exchange rates in real-time. Once installed, developers can instantly convert between major world currencies without worrying about API rate limits or subscription costs.

How to Install the Module

Installation is straightforward using pip:

pip install simple-currency-converter

Basic Usage Example

Implementing the converter in your Python code requires just a few lines:

from simple_currency_converter import convert

result = convert('USD', 'EUR', 100)
print(f'100 USD is equal to {result} EUR')

This example converts 100 US Dollars to Euros, displaying the current exchange rate result in the terminal.

Supported Currencies

The module supports all major fiat currencies including:

  • USD (US Dollar)
  • EUR (Euro)
  • GBP (British Pound)
  • AUD (Australian Dollar)
  • CAD (Canadian Dollar)
  • JPY (Japanese Yen)
  • INR (Indian Rupee)
  • And many more

While the module documentation mentions cryptocurrency codes, current testing indicates it works primarily with fiat currencies rather than cryptocurrencies.

Advantages Over API-Based Solutions

This web scraping approach offers several benefits:

  • No API key required
  • No rate limits or usage restrictions
  • No subscription costs
  • Real-time data sourced directly from Google
  • Simple implementation for both scripts and command-line usage

For developers building applications that require currency conversion functionality without the overhead of managing API integrations, this module provides a reliable and free alternative that can be used unlimited times.

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