Dynamically import a python file whose name is stored in a variable

Question

I have 2 python scripts. First python script name is "test_1.py" and internally it has main() function, and second script is "test_2.py" and internally it has a method called "sub_main()". Like wise I can have

test_3.py, test_4.py etc

Now in my "test_1.py I am trying to import "test_2.py" dynamically i.e the user will send the file name in command line arguments and I will store it in a variable and using this variable I should be able to import that respective script and call the "sub_main()" in my "main()" method of "test_1.py". Is there a workaround for this?

i think it's an x y problem i think the real question is why do you need those dynamic imports ? — med benzekri
– med benzekri, Commented Aug 11, 2022 at 13:01

Daniel Agam · Accepted Answer · 2022-08-11 13:03:37Z

1

You can use:

import importlib

module_name = input('Enter a module name you want')
dynamically_imported_module = importlib.import_module(module_name)

answered Aug 11, 2022 at 13:03

Daniel Agam

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Comments

Schnitte · Accepted Answer · 2022-08-11 13:11:21Z

0

You can obtain the name of the module you want to import from the command line arguments, put it into a variable, use that in an f string and exec() that f string:

st = f"import {name_of_module_to_be_imported}"
exec(st)

Whether that is a good idea is, of course, another question. You're opening yourself up to all sorts of security exploits where somebody could inject malicious code into the command-line arguments, which you will then execute.

answered Aug 11, 2022 at 13:11

Schnitte

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