I can load extra code in Python using both from and import.  Why does Python provide two ways of doing what looks like a very similar operation, and which is best to use?

from loads all or some of the names from a .py file into the current name space.

import loads the names from a .py into their own name space (being the same as the name of the file from which their loaded).

If you use from, you'll overwrite any names that happen to conflict with you current name space, and you'll grow the number of names in that name space - perhaps to the extent that it becomes unmanagable.  However, if you use from you save having to add a lot of extra namespace. code.

General advise - use from sparingly, and for things that you need to lead in and refer to many, many times.  Use import by default.



Just to add - an example ...

Code:

import fred print fred print fred.fred print fred.fred.snibbo print fred.john() print fred.fred()

is the equivalent of:

Code:

from fred import * print fred print fred.snibbo print john() print fred()

You'll note that the second example is much shorter and easier to read BUT that it would give you a name conflict if you already had objects called john or fred in you main name space.

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