Glossary Tool
Conda
Conda is a package and environment manager often used to install Python versions, native dependencies, and isolated project environments.
Conda manages packages and environments. It is popular in Python work because it can install Python itself, Python packages, and native dependencies that can be awkward with pip alone.
The useful bit is isolation. One environment can have Python 3.12 and modern Ansible packages. Another can pin older dependencies for a project that has not moved yet.
Conda is not the only way to manage Python environments, and it is not always the lightest. It earns its keep when compiled dependencies, multiple Python versions, or repeatable setup matter more than keeping the toolchain tiny.