CODEWITHSUNDEEP
pythonpython-3.xdjango
Bruce Peter
Bruce Peter

Reputation: 31

What does "from . import" mean?

I am using Django with Python and I don't understand this:

from . import views

I would like to know what I am importing when I type that.

Upvotes: 1

Views: 1968

Answers (3)

biswa1991
biswa1991

Reputation: 546

import from same directory , ".." mean import from upper directory

Upvotes: 1

danny bee
danny bee

Reputation: 870

You can import files, modules and packages using relative or absolute paths.

Take a look at this project:

-- project_folder
    --project_name
        ──settings.py
        ──init.py
        ──urls.py
        ──wsgi.py
    --app1
        ──__init__.py
        ── models.py
        ── views.py
        ── admin.py
        -- package1_folder
            ── hello_world.py

A relative import is used to retrieve a resource relative to the current path you are on.

So if you are currently working inside app1 -> views.py and you want to import hello_world.py to your views you can use . to specify a relative import to the current file you are working on.

So to import hello_world.py we could use from .package1_folder import hello_world.

If you just specify from . import models you are importing the models.py resource from the current folder you are on(app1).

An absolute import on the other hand is used to import a resource from anywhere in the project using the full path.

For example, you can use from app1.package1_folder import hello_world anywhere in your project and you will successfully import the file.

Upvotes: 2

mlotz
mlotz

Reputation: 140

You import views.py from the location of the python script that calls import statment.

Upvotes: 1

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