Python – How to Import * with import

importpython

What's the best approach to execute the following using __import__ so that I may dynamically specify the module?

from module import *

Best Answer

The only way I found:

module = __import__(module, globals(), locals(), ['*'])
for k in dir(module):
    locals()[k] = getattr(module, k)

Related Solutions

Python Import – Equivalent of ‘import * from module’ Using import

Please reconsider. The only thing worse than import * is magic import *.

If you really want to:

m = __import__ (S)
try:
    attrlist = m.__all__
except AttributeError:
    attrlist = dir (m)
for attr in attrlist:
    globals()[attr] = getattr (m, attr)

Why Import * Is Bad in Python – Explained

Because it puts a lot of stuff into your namespace (might shadow some other object from previous import and you won't know about it).
Because you don't know exactly what is imported and can't easily find from which module a certain thing was imported (readability).
Because you can't use cool tools like pyflakes to statically detect errors in your code.

Related Question

Import from Module by Importing via String in Python – How to