Importing Modules

Code sample link: https://replit.com/@jjoco/python-importing

If Python does not contain functionality for something you want to do, you can import libraries that implement these functions, assuming such libraries exist.

Importing a library

To import a library, one can use the import keyword. Take the following example, in whichnumpy, a popular scientific computing, library is imported.

import numpy

Then, you can invoke the array function within this library, like so:

numpy.array([3.5,2.4,1.0])

Library aliasing

In case the library's name is too long or too vague, one can use alias the library:

import numpy as np

Instead of using numpy when invoking a function, the dev can use np instead. So, what would originally have been numpy.array() would turn into np.array():

np.array([3.5,2.4,1.0])

Importing something from a library

You can import specific functions or constants from the imported libraries, like so

from math import pi

print(pi)

import math
print(math.pi)

It is a neat feature to use in case you don't want to write the library name every time you invoke a function from it.