How to Import a Module Into Python

Last Updated: August 8, 2019

Python's syntax allows for code to be significantly shortened by using something called modules. Similar to header files in C++, modules are a storage place for the definitions of functions. They are separated into common uses, such as the time module, which provides functions for time related uses.

Method 1

Method 1 of 2:

Using the from-import instruction

The from-import instruction imports functions from a module and lets you use them like functions from the core Python. You don't see that the functions belong to the module.

1
Find the module. Locate the module that you will be importing. A complete list of built in modules can be found here (v2.7) and here (v3.5).
2
To import a specific function from a specific module, write:
```
 from [module] import [function]
```
This will tell the script you are using a specific function from a specific module.
- For example, to import the randint function from the random module and print a random number using that function, you would write:
  from random import randint print(randint(0, 5))
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3
Separate multiple functions from the same module with commas (,). The structure looks like this:
```
from [module] import [function], [otherFunction], [anotherFunction], ...
```
- For example, to import the randint and random functions from the random module and print random numbers using these functions, you would write:
  from random import randint, random print(randint(0, 5)) print(random())
4
Import entire modules using a * instead of a function name. The structure looks like this:
```
 from [module] import *
```
- For example, to import the entire random module and then print a random number with its randint function, you would write:
  from random import * print(randint(0, 5))
5
Import multiple modules by writing multiple from-import instructions. You should start a new line for each instruction to keep the code readable, although separating them with a ; also works.
- For example, to import the randint function from the random module and the sqrt function from the math module and then print a result from both functions, you would write:
  from random import randint from math import sqrt # Would also work, but hard to read: # from random import randint; from math import sqrt print(randint(0, 5)) print(sqrt(25))

Method 2

Method 2 of 2:

Using the import instruction

The import instruction imports functions from a module and leaves it visible that the functions are from that module. When using a function imported with the import instruction, you have to write the module name and a dot (.) before it.
The import instruction doesn't allow to import a single function from a module without also importing all others.

1
Find the module. Locate the module that you will be importing. A complete list of built in modules can be found here (v2.7) and here (v3.5).
2
To import a module, write with the following structure:
```
import [module]
```
- For example, to import the random module and then print a random number with its randint function:
  import random print(random.randint(0, 5))
3
Separate multiple modules with a comma (,). The structure is:
```
import [module], [otherModule], [anotherModule], ...
```
You can also make multiple import instructions on multiple lines if that appears more legible or makes more sense in your specific case.
- For example, to import the random and math modules and then print the results of the randint and sqrt functions that are included in these modules, you would write:
  import random, math print(random.randint(0, 5)) print(math.sqrt(25))