How to fix How to fix 'Invalid requirement' error in pip in Python

PythonINTERMEDIATEMEDIUM

The requirement specification in your requirements file is malformed. pip couldn't parse it as a valid package requirement.

What this error means

A requirement must follow PEP 508 format: 'package-name[extras]>=version'. If you have typos, invalid syntax, or malformed specifiers, pip rejects the requirement as invalid.

Typical symptoms

pip fails with 'Invalid requirement' error
Error message shows exact line that's invalid
Requirements file has syntax error
Typo in package name or version specifier
Works after fixing requirements file
Other requirements in file work fine
Specific line number identified in error

Common causes

Typo or syntax error in requirements file
Invalid comparison operator (should be ==, >=, <=, etc.)
Missing equals sign in version specifier
Spaces in wrong places in requirement
Invalid package name (special characters)
Malformed extras specification
Comments or blank lines not formatted correctly

How to fix this error

1Verify the root cause

Review the error message above and identify which cause applies to your situation. Run additional diagnostics if needed.

2Apply the appropriate fix

Follow the corresponding solution from the causes section above.

3Retry the installation

Once you've addressed the root cause, try running 'pip install' again.

Related errors

Official resources & further reading

📚Python Official Documentation
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pip install documentation(Official Docs)
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SO: Invalid requirement error(Stack Overflow)
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GitHub: pip issues(GitHub)