Python __import__()

The __import__() is a function that is called by the import statement.

The syntax of the __import__() function is:

__import__(name, globals=None, locals=None, fromlist=(), level=0)

1. __import__() Parameters

• name – the name of the module you want to import
• globals and locals – determines how to interpret name
• fromlist – objects or submodules that should be imported by name
• level – specifies whether to use absolute or relative imports

2. Use of __import__() is Discouraged

This __import__() function is not necessary for everyday Python program. It is rarely used and often discouraged.

This function can be used to change the semantics of the import statement as the statement calls this function. Instead, it is better to use import hooks.

And, if you want to import a module by name, use importlib.import_module().

3. Example: How __import()__ works?

mathematics = __import__('math', globals(), locals(), [], 0)
print(mathematics.fabs(-2.5))

Output

2.5

The fabs() method is defined in the math module. You can call this function using the following syntax:

import math
math.fabs(x)

However, in the above program, we changed the way fabs() works. Now, we can also access fabs() using the following syntax:

mathematics.fabs(x)