Python modules

1 - What is Python module ?

A Python module is simply a Python code file that can be called and used without having to copy it. A module can contain functions, classes, variables ... A module allows you to logically organize your Python code. Associating code in a module makes the code easier to understand and use.

2 - Creating a Python module

We will try to create our own Python module named myModule:

1. Create a file named myModule.py
2. We introduce a code of some simple functions on the file myModule.py

Exemple (myModule.py)

def sum(x,y):
    return x + y

def division(x,y):
    return x/y

3. We then create a python file to test the module, for example testModule.py in the same directory as the myModule.py file (the two files myModule.py and testModule.py can be placed on different directories as long as you specify the path of myModule.py files when it is imported)
4. On the testModule.py file, type the code:

# We import the entire module
from myModule import *

# We can now use the sum() and division() functions of the module:
print ("the sum of 7 and 8 is : ", sum (7,8))
print ("the division of 12 by 3 is : ", division (12,3))

Note 

To use the functions of a module, you do not have to import the entire module, but you just need to import the functions you need. For example, if you only need to use the sum () function, you just import it.

Example: partial import of the module:

# We import the function sum() from  myModule.py
from myModule import sum

# We can now use only the functions sum of the module myModule:
print ("the sum of 7 and 8 is:", sum(7,8))

Younes Derfoufi