In Python, both packages and modules are used to organize code and provide a namespace for functions, classes, and variables. However, there are some key differences between the two:
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Organization: Modules are used to organize related code into a single file, while packages are used to organize related modules and sub-packages into a directory hierarchy.
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Namespace: Modules provide a namespace for code contained within a single file, while packages provide a hierarchical namespace for code contained within multiple files and directories.
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__init__.py
: A module is simply a Python file containing code, while a package is a directory that contains a__init__.py
file along with one or more modules or sub-packages. -
Importing: To use code from a module, you can use the
import
statement to import the module into your Python program. To use code from a package, you can also use theimport
statement with dot notation to specify the full path of the module or sub-package within the package. -
Size: Modules tend to be smaller than packages, as they are designed to contain a relatively small amount of code. Packages, on the other hand, are designed to contain multiple modules and sub-packages and can be much larger.
In summary, while both packages and modules are used to organize and provide a namespace for code in Python, packages are used for larger projects that require a directory hierarchy to organize related modules and sub-packages, while modules are used for smaller projects or specific functionality within a larger project.
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