How to Import a Module From a Full File Path in Python

1. Import a Module With a Full File Path in Python 3.5+
2. Import a Module With a Full File Path in Python 3.3 and 3.4
3. Import a Module With a Full File Path in Python 2

To import a Python file from a given path, use the Python libraries based on the Python version. This article explains how to import a module given the full path to the module in Python.

Use the following libraries’ functions based on the Python version to import modules.

1. For Python 3.5+, import importlib.util.
2. For Python 3.3 and 3.4, import importlib.machinery, SourceFileLoader.
3. For Python 2, import imp.

Before we begin, please get the file setup ready to demonstrate the examples.

• Mention the following code in the addmodule.py file.

def printingstatement():
    print("From addmodule.py")

• Place addmodule.py inside a folder. In the examples below, it is inside c:\\Users\\Rexjohn\\Folder-1\\.

Import a Module With a Full File Path in Python 3.5+

For Python 3.5+, use the importlib.util library’s functions to import a module:

import importlib.util

MODULE_PATH = "c:\\Users\\Rexjohn\\Folder-1\\addmodule.py"
MODULE_NAME = "addmodule"

spec = importlib.util.spec_from_file_location(MODULE_NAME, MODULE_PATH)
modulevar = importlib.util.module_from_spec(spec)
spec.loader.exec_module(modulevar)

modulevar.printingstatement()

Here, use the following functions from the importlib.util library.

• spec_from_file_location(MODULE_NAME, MODULE_PATH). Please mention the full file path of the module name MODULE_NAME in MODULE_PATH.
• module_from_spec(spec)
• exec_module(modulevar)

Output:

From addmodule.py

Import a Module With a Full File Path in Python 3.3 and 3.4

If you’re working with Python 3.3 and 3.4, you can use the importlib.machinery, SourceFileLoader library’s functions to import a module:

from importlib.machinery import SourceFileLoader

MODULE_PATH = "c:\\Users\\Rexjohn\\Folder-1\\addmodule.py"
MODULE_NAME = "addmodule"

modulevar = SourceFileLoader(MODULE_NAME, MODULE_PATH).load_module()

modulevar.printingstatement()

Here, use the following functions from the importlib.machinery, SourceFileLoader libraries by mentioning.

SourceFileLoader(MODULE_NAME, MODULE_PATH).load_module()

Output:

From addmodule.py

Import a Module With a Full File Path in Python 2

For Python 2, use the imp library’s functions to import a module:

import imp

MODULE_PATH = "c:\\Users\\Rexjohn\\Folder-1\\addmodule.py"
MODULE_NAME = "addmodule"

modulevar = imp.load_source(MODULE_NAME, MODULE_PATH)

modulevar.printingstatement()

Here, use the following function from the imp library.

load_source(MODULE_NAME, MODULE_PATH)

Output:

From addmodule.py