# protoc > Parse Google Protobuf `.proto` files and generate output in the specified language. > More information: . - Generate Python code from a `.proto` file: `protoc --python_out={{path/to/output_directory}} {{input_file.proto}}` - Generate Java code from a `.proto` file that imports other `.proto` files: `protoc --java_out={{path/to/output_directory}} --proto_path={{path/to/import_search_path}} {{input_file.proto}}` - Generate code for multiple languages: `protoc --csharp_out={{path/to/c#_output_directory}} --js_out={{path/to/js_output_directory}} {{input_file.proto}}`