urllib3 Library Embarks on Supporting WASM Runtime Execution in Browser by Unveiling Python App Porting Path Through Node.js

The latest version of the urllib3 library, 2.2.0, introduces a crucial feature – support for Pyodide runtime, allowing Python code to be executed in browsers or Node.js. urllib3 is an independent library that competes with the standard urllib module in Python itself. It is also the underlying library for the popular requests module, known for its user-friendly API.

For this round of WASM support, urllib3 utilizes the Fetch API or XMLHttpRequest of the browser, letting go of several Python-specific features. This means that certain functionalities such as proxy configuration, CA certificate modifications, and direct socket parameter adjustments cannot be used. Despite these significant limitations, it does open up possibilities for multiple network-dependent codes to be run in browsers.

While urllib3 version 2.2.0 is currently available for download, the WASM feature is still experimental.

TLDR: The latest urllib3 version 2.2.0 brings support for Pyodide runtime, enabling the execution of Python code in browsers or Node.js. While limitations exist, it opens doors for network-related codes to run in browsers. However, the WASM feature is still in its experimental phase.