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A channel is a location where conda searches for packages. When you install a package, conda queries the configured channels to find, download, and install the package files into your environment.

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Why channels matter

Channels solve the distribution problem for conda packages. Different organizations and communities maintain their own channels to host packages they’ve built, curated, or want to share. This allows you to access packages from multiple sources while conda handles the complexity of finding compatible versions and resolving dependencies.

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How conda finds channels

Conda determines which channels to search by reading your .condarc configuration file. This file contains a list of channels and determines their order of priority. When you install Anaconda Distribution or Miniconda, your conda client is pre-configured to use Anaconda’s default channels, providing you with access to thousands of popular software packages for data science and AI workflows. You can modify it to add channels like the community-maintained conda-forge channel, to access additional packages.

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Channel priority

Conda searches for requested packages starting with the first entry in the channels: list in your .condarc file. If the requested package is not located in that channel, conda continues searching using the next entry in the channels: list. When conda reaches the defaults entry in the channels: list, it searches the channels listed under the default_channels: list, in the same descending order. This is called “channel priority”, and it determines which source conda uses first when resolving packages.

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Working with channels

For detailed instructions on viewing, configuring, and managing channels, see Channels. For more information about how channels are structured and how conda uses them, see the official conda channels documentation.