"from module import *" Statement

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∟"from module import *" Statement

This section provides a quick introduction of 'from module import *' statement, which imports all members of a given module.

What Is "from module import *" Statement? A "from module import *" statement is a variation of the "import" statement that imports all members of a given module.

When a "from module_name import *" statement is executed, Python system will do the following:

Search for the module file, module_name.py, in locations given in sys.path.
Load the module file in memory.
Execute sub-statements stored in the module file. This may define variables (attributes), functions and classes in the module.
Create a "module" object to store module's attributes, functions and classes defined during the execution.
Declare a variable for each module member with the member name.
Assign each module member object to the variable of the same name.

The following code shows you how to import all members defined in the module file.

>>> from module_test import *
Hi there! - from 'module_test' module
Welcome on board! - from 'first' class

>>> version
"1.00 - from 'version' attribute"

>>> help()
How can I help you? - from 'help()' function

>>> o = first()
>>> o.rise()
count = 1 - from 'rise()' method

Note that importing all members with the wildcard character has a potential risk of mess up existing variables, if their names are also used by module members. For example, what will be the value in "version" after running the code below?

>>> version = 3.9
>>> from module_test import *

You can reduce the this risk by using the __all__ list to control which members to be imported by the "from module import *" statement. See next tutorial.