from … import OR import … as for modules

Question

Should I use

from foo import bar

OR

import foo.bar as bar

when importing a module and an

Answer 1

This is a late answer, arising from what is the difference between 'import a.b as b' and 'from a import b' in python

This question has been flagged as a duplicate, but there is an important difference between the two mechanisms that has not been addressed by others.

from foo import bar imports any object called bar from namespace foo into the current namespace.

import foo.bar as bar imports an importable object (package/module/namespace) called foo.bar and gives it the alias bar.

What's the difference?

Take a directory (package) called foo which has an __init__.py containing:

# foo.__init__.py
class myclass:
    def __init__(self, var):
        self.__var = var

    def __str__(self):
        return str(self.__var)

bar = myclass(42)

Meanwhile, there is also a module in foo called bar.py.

from foo import bar
print(bar)

Gives:

42

Whereas:

import  foo.bar as bar
print(bar)

Gives:

So it can be seen that import foo.bar as bar is safer.