What's the correct way to sort Python `import x` and `from x import y` statements?

Question

The python style guide suggests to group imports like this:

Imports should be grouped in the following order:

1. standard library imp

Answer 1

Imports are generally sorted alphabetically and described in various places beside PEP 8.

Alphabetically sorted modules are quicker to read and searchable. After all python is all about readability. Also It is easier to verify that something is imported, and avoids duplicated imports

There is nothing available in PEP 8 regarding sorting.So its all about choice what you use.

According to few references from reputable sites and repositories also popularity, Alphabetical ordering is the way.

for eg like this:

import httplib
import logging
import random
import StringIO
import time
import unittest
from nova.api import openstack
from nova.auth import users
from nova.endpoint import cloud

OR

import a_standard
import b_standard

import a_third_party
import b_third_party

from a_soc import f
from a_soc import g
from b_soc import d

Reddit official repository also states that, In general PEP-8 import ordering should be used. However there are a few additions which is

for each imported group the order of imports should be:
import . style lines in alphabetical order
from . import  style in alphabetical order

References:

• https://code.google.com/p/soc/wiki/PythonStyleGuide
• https://github.com/reddit/reddit/wiki/PythonImportGuidelines
• http://docs.openstack.org/developer/hacking/
• http://developer.plone.org/reference_manuals/external/plone.api/contribute/conventions.html#grouping-and-sorting

PS: the isort utility automatically sorts your imports.