Implementation:Guardrails ai Guardrails Install API Extra

Knowledge Sources	Guardrails
Domains	Deployment, Installation
Last Updated	2026-02-14 00:00 GMT

Overview

Concrete installation command for adding server capabilities to Guardrails provided by the guardrails package.

Description

This is an External Tool Doc documenting the pip command for installing the guardrails-api optional extra. The [api] extra is defined in pyproject.toml and installs the separate guardrails-api package which provides the HTTP server application, REST endpoints, and deployment infrastructure.

Usage

Run the pip install command in your Python environment before using guardrails start or deploying as a server.

Code Reference

Source Location

• Repository: guardrails
• File: pyproject.toml (optional extras definition)

Command

pip install "guardrails-ai[api]"

Import

# After installation, the guardrails-api package is available:
import guardrails_api  # Server application

I/O Contract

Inputs

Name	Type	Required	Description
Python environment	Environment	Yes	Python >=3.10 environment

Outputs

Name	Type	Description
guardrails-api package	Package	Installed package providing server application factory and REST endpoints

Usage Examples

Installation

# Install with API server support
pip install "guardrails-ai[api]"

# Verify installation
python -c "import guardrails_api; print('Server support available')"

Related Pages

Implements Principle

• Principle:Guardrails_ai_Guardrails_API_Server_Installation

Requires Environment

• Environment:Guardrails_ai_Guardrails_Docker_Server_Runtime