Difference between import tkinter as tk and from tkinter import
I know it is a stupid question but I am just starting to learn python and i don't have good knowledge of python. My question is what is the difference between
from Tkinter import *
and
import Tkinter as tk
?Why can't i just write
import Tkinter
Could anyone spare a few mins to enlighten me?
Solution 1:
from Tkinter import * imports every exposed object in Tkinter into your current namespace.
import Tkinter imports the "namespace" Tkinter in your namespace and
import Tkinter as tk does the same, but "renames" it locally to 'tk' to save you typing
let's say we have a module foo, containing the classes A, B, and C.
Then import foo gives you access to foo.A, foo.B, and foo.C.
When you do import foo as x you have access to those too, but under the names x.A, x.B, and x.C.
from foo import * will import A, B, and C directly in your current namespace, so you can access them with A, B, and C.
There is also from foo import A, C wich will import A and C, but not B into your current namespace.
You can also do from foo import B as Bar, which will make B available under the name Bar (in your current namespace).
So generally: when you want only one object of a module, you do from module import object or from module import object as whatiwantittocall.
When you want some modules functionality, you do import module, or import module as shortname to save you typing.
from module import * is discouraged, as you may accidentally shadow ("override") names, and may lose track which objects belong to wich module.
Solution 2:
You can certainly use
import Tkinter
However, if you do that, you'd have to prefix every single Tk class name you use with Tkinter..
This is rather inconvenient.
On the other hand, the following:
import Tkinter as tk
sidesteps the problem by only requiring you to type tk. instead of Tkinter..
As to:
from Tkinter import *
it is generally a bad idea, for reasons discussed in Should wildcard import be avoided?