python __import__ fromlist
python __import__ fromlist
The __import__
function in Python! It's a built-in mechanism that allows us to dynamically import modules, classes, functions, or variables by name.
When you use the __import__
function, it takes three arguments: the module name (string), the fromlist (a list of strings), and a level parameter. The fromlist is used to specify which parts of the imported module you want to access.
Let's break this down further:
Module Name: This is the name of the module you want to import. It can be a string or an integer that represents the module's index in sys.modules. Fromlist: This is a list of strings that specifies which parts of the imported module you want to access. Each string should be a valid attribute name (e.g., function, class, variable). Level Parameter: This optional parameter determines how to locate the module. It can be an integer or a level path. For simplicity, let's focus on the default behavior (level 0), where__import__
looks for the module in the current package.
Here's some sample code to illustrate how to use __import__
:
# Import the math module with only specific parts
math = import('math', fromlist=['sin', 'cos', 'tan'])
print(math.sin(3.14)) # Output: 0.0015926523535572415
print(math.cos(1.57)) # Output: 6.123233996274458e-17
print(math.tan(2.71)) # Output: 0.0023622041224474495
In this example, we import the math
module and specify that we only want to access its sin
, cos
, and tan
functions. By doing so, we avoid cluttering our namespace with unnecessary imports.
Now, let's dive into some scenarios where __import__
shines:
__import__
to dynamically import modules based on user input or configuration files. Selective Importing: With the fromlist feature, you can selectively import specific parts of a module, reducing namespace pollution and improving code organization. Module Aliases: __import__
allows you to alias a module with a shorter name for convenience, making your code more readable.
While __import__
might not be as commonly used as other Python features, it's an essential tool for any serious Python developer. By mastering this function, you'll unlock the power to dynamically import modules and selectively access their contents like never before!
python __import__ example
Here is a detailed explanation of the __import__
function in Python, along with examples:
The __import__
function is a built-in Python function that imports modules dynamically. This means you can import modules without knowing their names beforehand. It's a very powerful feature that allows you to write flexible and dynamic code.
Here's a basic example of how to use __import__
:
import __import__
module_name = "math"
m = import(module_name)
print(m.pi) # prints 3.14159
print(m.e) # prints 2.71828
In this example, we first import the __import__
function itself (note the double underscores). Then, we define a string module_name
that contains the name of the module we want to import (in this case, "math"). Finally, we use __import__(module_name)
to dynamically import the "math" module and store it in the variable m
. We can then access its attributes, such as pi
and e
, just like if we had imported the module manually.
Another example shows how you can use __import__
with a fully qualified name:
module_name = "numpy.random"
m = import(module_name)
print(m.normal(0, 1, (3,))) # prints an array of random numbers
Here, we import the random
module from the numpy
package. This example demonstrates how you can use __import__
to dynamically import modules and their sub-modules.
Here's another way to use __import__
, with a dot-separated string:
module_name = "os.path"
m = import(module_name)
print(m.dirname(file)) # prints the directory of this file
In this example, we use the dot-separated string "os.path" to import the path
module from the os
package. Again, we can access its attributes just like if we had imported the module manually.
Some important notes about using __import__
:
__import__
function returns the imported module object, so you can use it as if it were manually imported.
Here's a more complex example that shows how __import__
can be used in combination with other Python features:
def load_module(name):
m = import(name)
return getattr(m, name.split(".")[1])
Test the function
print(load_module("math")) # prints math module object
print(load_module("numpy.random")) # prints numpy random module object
print(load_module("os.path")) # prints os path module object
In this example, we define a function load_module
that uses __import__
to dynamically import a module. The function takes the name of the module as input and returns the module object. We can then use this function to load different modules based on their names.
These are just some examples of how you can use Python's __import__
function to write flexible, dynamic code. With practice, you'll find many creative ways to apply this powerful feature in your own projects!