password generator in python using gui

introduction

In the digital era, the importance of strong, secure passwords cannot be overstated. With the ever-growing number of online accounts, users often struggle to create and remember unique passwords for each platform. Weak or reused passwords are a common cause of security breaches. To address this issue, this project presents an intuitive and powerful Password Generator in Python with a clean and simple graphical user interface (GUI) powered by the tkinter module.

The Password Generator enables users to generate complex passwords that include a mix of uppercase letters, lowercase letters, digits, and special characters. It gives users control over the password length and character composition, enhancing both security and customization. With the addition of a Copy to Clipboard feature, users can conveniently use the generated password anywhere with just one click.

This project is implemented using Jupyter Notebook, which allows for easy interactive development and experimentation, making it ideal for learning and demonstrating core Python concepts like functions, conditionals, loops, GUI programming, and string manipulation.

Key Highlights:

Password length selection input.
Checkboxes to choose character sets (uppercase, lowercase, digits, symbols).
One-click password generation.
Copy-to-clipboard functionality.
Built with simple Python and tkinter GUI for ease of use.

Why Use a Password Generator in python?

Humans tend to create weak, predictable passwords.
Manual generation is time-consuming and error-prone.
Automated tools like this one ensure randomness and strength.
It promotes better password hygiene and reduces the risk of hacking.

Objectives of the Project

To generate strong and secure passwords based on user preferences.
To provide a clean and simple GUI using Python’s tkinter module.
To allow easy copying of generated passwords using clipboard functionality.
To help users manage digital security effectively with minimal effort.

Technologies Used

Python 3.x – Programming Language
Tkinter – GUI Toolkit
String & Random Modules – For password logic
Jupyter Notebook – Development Environment

This Password Generator project is an excellent beginner-level application for learning how to build interactive Python applications with GUI, and also a practical tool to improve your own digital security.

steps to create password generator in python

Step 1: Open Jupyter Notebook

Launch Anaconda Navigator or run jupyter notebook in terminal/command prompt.
Create a new Python 3 Notebook.

Step 2: Import Required Libraries

import tkinter as tk
from tkinter import messagebox
import random
import string

These libraries help with GUI creation (tkinter) and character selection (random, string).

Step 3: Define Password Generation Logic

def generate_password():
    try:
        length = int(length_entry.get())
        if length < 4:
            messagebox.showwarning("Invalid Length", "Password length should be at least 4")
            return

        characters = ""
        if use_upper.get():
            characters += string.ascii_uppercase
        if use_lower.get():
            characters += string.ascii_lowercase
        if use_digits.get():
            characters += string.digits
        if use_symbols.get():
            characters += string.punctuation

        if not characters:
            messagebox.showwarning("Selection Error", "Please select at least one character set!")
            return

        password = ''.join(random.choice(characters) for _ in range(length))
        password_var.set(password)
    except ValueError:
        messagebox.showerror("Input Error", "Enter a valid number for length!")

Step 4: Define Clipboard Copy Function

def copy_to_clipboard():
    root.clipboard_clear()
    root.clipboard_append(password_var.get())
    messagebox.showinfo("Copied", "Password copied to clipboard!")

Step 5: Create GUI Window and Components

# GUI Window
root = tk.Tk()
root.title("🔐 Password Generator")
root.geometry("400x300")
root.config(bg="lightgray")

# Title
tk.Label(root, text="Password Generator", font=("Helvetica", 16, "bold"), bg="lightgray").pack(pady=10)

# Password Length
tk.Label(root, text="Enter Password Length:", bg="lightgray").pack()
length_entry = tk.Entry(root)
length_entry.pack()

# Checkbuttons
use_upper = tk.BooleanVar(value=True)
use_lower = tk.BooleanVar(value=True)
use_digits = tk.BooleanVar(value=True)
use_symbols = tk.BooleanVar(value=True)

tk.Checkbutton(root, text="Include Uppercase", variable=use_upper, bg="lightgray").pack()
tk.Checkbutton(root, text="Include Lowercase", variable=use_lower, bg="lightgray").pack()
tk.Checkbutton(root, text="Include Digits", variable=use_digits, bg="lightgray").pack()
tk.Checkbutton(root, text="Include Symbols", variable=use_symbols, bg="lightgray").pack()

# Output
password_var = tk.StringVar()
tk.Entry(root, textvariable=password_var, font=("Courier", 12), justify="center").pack(pady=10)

# Buttons
tk.Button(root, text="Generate Password", command=generate_password, bg="green", fg="white").pack(pady=5)
tk.Button(root, text="Copy to Clipboard", command=copy_to_clipboard, bg="blue", fg="white").pack()

root.mainloop()

Step 6: Run the Notebook

Execute all cells in the notebook.
A GUI window will appear where you can interact with the password generator.

code explanation

`1.import tkinter as tk`

Imports the Tkinter library to create the GUI (Graphical User Interface).
tk is an alias used for shorthand.

`2.from tkinter import messagebox`

Allows us to display popup messages (like warnings or info alerts).

`3.import random, string`

random: Used to randomly select characters for password.
string: Provides predefined character sets like letters, digits, punctuation.

1.Function: generate_password()

def generate_password():
    ...

This is the main logic that creates the password.

🔸 `length = int(length_entry.get())`

Retrieves the password length from the input box and converts it to an integer.

🔸 `if length < 4:`

Ensures the password is at least 4 characters long.

2. Character Set Selection

characters = ""
if use_upper.get(): characters += string.ascii_uppercase
if use_lower.get(): characters += string.ascii_lowercase
if use_digits.get(): characters += string.digits
if use_symbols.get(): characters += string.punctuation

Based on checkboxes, adds selected character types to the pool.

3. Password Generation

password = ''.join(random.choice(characters) for _ in range(length))
password_var.set(password)

Randomly selects characters and combines them into a password.
Updates the GUI with the result.

4.Function: copy_to_clipboard()

def copy_to_clipboard():
    root.clipboard_clear()
    root.clipboard_append(password_var.get())
    messagebox.showinfo("Copied", "Password copied to clipboard!")

Clears the system clipboard and copies the generated password.
Displays a popup saying “Copied”.

5.GUI Window Setup

root = tk.Tk()
root.title("🔐 Password Generator")
root.geometry("400x300")
root.config(bg="lightgray")

Creates the main GUI window.
Sets title, size, and background color.

6.Labels, Entries, and Checkbuttons

tk.Label(...).pack()
length_entry = tk.Entry(root)
...
use_upper = tk.BooleanVar(value=True)
tk.Checkbutton(...).pack()

These elements let the user input password length and select character types.
BooleanVar is used to track the checkbox state (True/False).

7.Password Display and Buttons

password_var = tk.StringVar()
tk.Entry(root, textvariable=password_var).pack()
tk.Button(root, text="Generate Password", command=generate_password).pack()
tk.Button(root, text="Copy to Clipboard", command=copy_to_clipboard).pack()

Displays the generated password.
Buttons for generating and copying the password.

8.Start the GUI Loop

root.mainloop()

Launches the GUI and waits for user interactions (clicks, inputs).

9.Summary

Component	Purpose
`tkinter`	Builds the user interface
`string` module	Provides sets of characters for password generation
`random` module	Picks characters randomly from selected sets
`messagebox`	Shows pop-up alerts or warnings
`BooleanVar`	Stores True/False for each checkbox
`StringVar`	Used to dynamically update password output in entry box

source code

				
					import tkinter as tk
from tkinter import messagebox
import random
import string

def generate_password():
    try:
        length = int(length_entry.get())
        if length &lt; 4:
            messagebox.showwarning(&quot;Invalid Length&quot;, &quot;Password length should be at least 4&quot;)
            return

        characters = &quot;&quot;
        if use_upper.get():
            characters += string.ascii_uppercase
        if use_lower.get():
            characters += string.ascii_lowercase
        if use_digits.get():
            characters += string.digits
        if use_symbols.get():
            characters += string.punctuation

        if not characters:
            messagebox.showwarning(&quot;Selection Error&quot;, &quot;Please select at least one character set!&quot;)
            return

        password = &#039;&#039;.join(random.choice(characters) for _ in range(length))
        password_var.set(password)
    except ValueError:
        messagebox.showerror(&quot;Input Error&quot;, &quot;Enter a valid number for length!&quot;)

def copy_to_clipboard():
    root.clipboard_clear()
    root.clipboard_append(password_var.get())
    messagebox.showinfo(&quot;Copied&quot;, &quot;Password copied to clipboard!&quot;)

# GUI Window
root = tk.Tk()
root.title(&quot;🔐 Password Generator&quot;)
root.geometry(&quot;400x300&quot;)
root.config(bg=&quot;lightgray&quot;)

# Title
tk.Label(root, text=&quot;Password Generator&quot;, font=(&quot;Helvetica&quot;, 16, &quot;bold&quot;), bg=&quot;lightgray&quot;).pack(pady=10)

# Password Length
tk.Label(root, text=&quot;Enter Password Length:&quot;, bg=&quot;lightgray&quot;).pack()
length_entry = tk.Entry(root)
length_entry.pack()

# Checkbuttons for character sets
use_upper = tk.BooleanVar(value=True)
use_lower = tk.BooleanVar(value=True)
use_digits = tk.BooleanVar(value=True)
use_symbols = tk.BooleanVar(value=True)

tk.Checkbutton(root, text=&quot;Include Uppercase&quot;, variable=use_upper, bg=&quot;lightgray&quot;).pack()
tk.Checkbutton(root, text=&quot;Include Lowercase&quot;, variable=use_lower, bg=&quot;lightgray&quot;).pack()
tk.Checkbutton(root, text=&quot;Include Digits&quot;, variable=use_digits, bg=&quot;lightgray&quot;).pack()
tk.Checkbutton(root, text=&quot;Include Symbols&quot;, variable=use_symbols, bg=&quot;lightgray&quot;).pack()

# Output Password
password_var = tk.StringVar()
tk.Entry(root, textvariable=password_var, font=(&quot;Courier&quot;, 12), justify=&quot;center&quot;).pack(pady=10)

# Buttons
tk.Button(root, text=&quot;Generate Password&quot;, command=generate_password, bg=&quot;green&quot;, fg=&quot;white&quot;).pack(pady=5)
tk.Button(root, text=&quot;Copy to Clipboard&quot;, command=copy_to_clipboard, bg=&quot;blue&quot;, fg=&quot;white&quot;).pack()

root.mainloop()