How Can I Resolve Python Import Errors Caused by Identical Filenames?

Clash of Names: Importing Libraries with Identical Filenames

When dealing with Python imports, it's imperative to avoid naming your scripts after existing libraries. When you do, it creates a conflict that hampers your ability to access external functionalities.

In cases like these, Python gives precedence to the local module over the pre-installed one. This is due to the inclusion of the current directory at the top of sys.path, making it easier for Python to locate the local script with the same name.

For example, if you have a script named requests.py that you want to use to interact with the requests package, it will fail because your local script shadows the installed version. The result is a series of errors, ranging from ImportError and NameError to an AttributeError claiming that "module 'requests' has no attribute 'get'."

To resolve this issue, rename your local script to a unique name that does not clash with any existing library. Additionally, check for a requests.pyc file (located in the pycache directory in Python 3) and remove it, as the interpreter might still reference it and continue to produce the error.

Note: The collision can also occur if you name your file similarly to a module imported by another module you're importing directly. For instance, creating a file named copy.py and attempting to import pandas may result in an ImportError, as pandas itself imports copy.

To mitigate this issue, avoid using names that are commonly used in Python modules and opt for unique names to prevent conflicts.

The above is the detailed content of How Can I Resolve Python Import Errors Caused by Identical Filenames?. For more information, please follow other related articles on the PHP Chinese website!