Wildcard import
A wildcard import is an import statement that brings eligible exported names from a module, package, object, or namespace into the importing scope.
The Quick Python Book, Fourth Edition
A wildcard import is an import statement form that brings the names exported by a module directly into the importing namespace.
- How it is used
- Imports a module’s exported names directly for concise access, especially in interactive shells or modules designed for wildcard use.
- How deep it goes
- Explains syntax, public-name filtering, __all__, collisions, private-name exceptions, and nonrecursive package behavior without implementation internals.
- Examples
- Demonstrates modtest.py visibility, math–cmath collisions, and package exports through mathproj and its comp subpackage.
- What you can do after
- Apply it via Python import statements while controlling exported names and recognizing collisions, hidden names, and package boundaries.
Read how The Quick Python Book, Fourth Edition explains wildcard import →
Python Workout, Second Edition
A wildcard import imports the names designated for export by a module rather than naming each imported name individually.
- How it is used
- Uses wildcard syntax to import a module’s designated exports without naming each imported name individually.
- How deep it goes
- Defines __all__ through a focused exercise, but does not develop wildcard-import internals or broader trade-offs.
- Examples
- Uses module stuff with variables a, b, c and functions foo, bar to demonstrate selective exports.
- What you can do after
- Build it from scratch by defining __all__ to control names imported with wildcard syntax.
Read how Python Workout, Second Edition explains wildcard import →
Related concepts
- __all__configured by · __all__ is a module-level sequence of names specifying which names a Python module exports for wildcard imports.
- import statementkind of · An import statement is a source-code declaration that makes names or definitions from another module, package, or namespace available in the current scope.
- namespaceuses · A namespace is a naming context or identifier space in which names are defined and resolved, distinguishing them from names in other contexts.
- use declarationuses · A use declaration is Rust syntax that brings names or items from a module or crate into scope for unqualified access.
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