Firebase is a Backend-as-a-Service (BaaS) platform from Google that provides real-time databases, authentication, cloud storage, and more. Python can interact with Firebase using the Firebase Admin SDK or third-party libraries like Pyrebase.
1. Why Use Firebase with Python?
Real-time Database – Sync data across multiple devices instantly.
Firestore (NoSQL) – Flexible, scalable, document-based storage.
Authentication – Google, Facebook, Email, and more.
Cloud Storage – Store and retrieve user-generated content.
Cloud Functions – Automate backend operations.
2. Installing Firebase SDK for Python
To work with Firebase in Python, install the required packages:
pip install firebase-admin
pip install pyrebase4 # Alternative library for authentication & database
firebase-admin is the official SDK for backend integration.
pyrebase4 is a community-supported Firebase wrapper for Python.
3. Setting Up Firebase in Google Console
Step 1: Create a Firebase Project
- Go to Firebase Console.
- Click Add Project → Enter Project Name → Click Continue.
- Disable Google Analytics (optional) and Create Project.
Step 2: Get Firebase Credentials (Service Account JSON)
- In the Firebase Console, go to Project Settings.
- Under the Service Accounts tab, click Generate New Private Key.
- Download the JSON file (contains credentials for Python to connect).
Keep this JSON file secure and never share it publicly.
4. Connecting to Firebase with Python
Using Firebase Admin SDK
Initialize Firebase Connection
import firebase_admin
from firebase_admin import credentials, firestore
# Load the service account key JSON file
cred = credentials.Certificate("path/to/serviceAccountKey.json")
# Initialize Firebase app
firebase_admin.initialize_app(cred)
# Connect to Firestore Database
db = firestore.client()
print("Connected to Firebase!")
Replace "path/to/serviceAccountKey.json" with your actual JSON file path.
5. Working with Firestore Database
Adding Data to Firestore
doc_ref = db.collection("users").document("user_1")
doc_ref.set({
"name": "John Doe",
"email": "john@example.com",
"age": 25
})
print("Data added successfully!")
set() creates or updates a document in Firestore.
Reading Data from Firestore
doc = db.collection("users").document("user_1").get()
if doc.exists:
print("User Data:", doc.to_dict())
else:
print("No such document!")
to_dict() converts Firestore data into a Python dictionary.
Updating Data in Firestore
db.collection("users").document("user_1").update({
"age": 26
})
print("User updated successfully!")
update() modifies specific fields without overwriting the document.
Deleting Data from Firestore
db.collection("users").document("user_1").delete()
print("User deleted successfully!")
delete() removes a document permanently.
6. Using Firebase Authentication in Python
Initialize Pyrebase for Authentication
import pyrebase
config = {
"apiKey": "your-api-key",
"authDomain": "your-project-id.firebaseapp.com",
"databaseURL": "https://your-database-name.firebaseio.com",
"storageBucket": "your-project-id.appspot.com",
}
firebase = pyrebase.initialize_app(config)
auth = firebase.auth()
print("Firebase Authentication initialized!")
Replace "your-api-key" and other values with your Firebase Config from the console.
User Sign Up (Email & Password)
email = "user@example.com"
password = "securepassword"
user = auth.create_user_with_email_and_password(email, password)
print("User created successfully:", user)
The user’s authentication data is stored in Firebase Authentication.
User Login (Email & Password)
email = "user@example.com"
password = "securepassword"
user = auth.sign_in_with_email_and_password(email, password)
print("User logged in:", user)
The user object contains authentication tokens.
Reset Password
auth.send_password_reset_email("user@example.com")
print("Password reset email sent!")
Sends a password reset email to the user.
7. Using Firebase Realtime Database
Firebase also provides a NoSQL JSON database called Realtime Database.
Initialize Firebase Realtime Database
db = firebase.database()
Writing Data to Realtime Database
db.child("users").child("user_1").set({
"name": "Alice",
"email": "alice@example.com",
"age": 23
})
print("User added to Realtime Database!")
Reading Data from Realtime Database
user = db.child("users").child("user_1").get()
print(user.val()) # Get the value of the record
Updating Data in Realtime Database
db.child("users").child("user_1").update({"age": 24})
print("User updated!")
Deleting Data from Realtime Database
db.child("users").child("user_1").remove()
print("User deleted!")
8. Uploading Files to Firebase Storage
storage = firebase.storage()
# Upload a file
storage.child("images/profile.jpg").put("local/path/to/image.jpg")
print("File uploaded successfully!")
The file is stored in Firebase Cloud Storage.
9. Downloading Files from Firebase Storage
storage.child("images/profile.jpg").download("profile.jpg")
print("File downloaded!")
10. Deploying Firebase Functions (Optional)
Firebase allows you to run serverless functions using Cloud Functions.
To deploy, install Firebase CLI and run:
firebase deploy --only functions
Python is not natively supported in Firebase Functions, but can be used via HTTP requests.