How to import variables from another file in Python?

Last Updated : 03 Apr, 2025

To import variables from another file in Python, you need to use the import statement. By importing a file, you gain access to its variables and functions. This can be done by simply using import filename or from filename import variable_name to access the required variables or functions in your current program. For example, math library. If we want to use the pi variable we use import math and then math.pi.

import Statement

We can use any Python source file as a module by executing an import statement in some other Python source file. When the interpreter encounters an import statement, it imports the module if the module is present in the search path. A search path is a list of directories that the interpreter searches for importing a module.

import statement allows you to import a whole module and access its variables and functions using the syntax:

import filename

from import Statement

from statement allows you to import specific attributes (like variables or functions) from a module. You can directly access these attributes without using the module name as a prefix.

from filename import variable_name

Different approaches to import variables from other file

import <file_name> and then use <file_name>.<variable_name> to access variable
from <file_name> import <variable_names> and use variables
from <file_name> import * and then use variables directly.

Note: For more information, refer Python Modules

Examples

Python

x = 23
y = 30

def swapVal(x, y):
  x,y = y,x
  return x, y

Suppose we have a file named "swaps.py". We have to import the x and y variable from this file in another file named "calval.py" then different ways to do so are:

Example 1: Using import <file_name> and accessing variables with <file_name>.<variable_name>

In this approach, we import the entire swaps module and access the variables and functions with the module name as a prefix.

Python

import swaps

# Import x and y variables using file_name.variable_name notation
nx = swaps.x
ny = swaps.y

print("x value: ", nx, "y value:", ny)

# Similarly, import swapVal method from swaps file
x , y = swaps.swapVal(nx,ny)

print("x value: ", x, "y value:", y)

Output:

x value:  23 y value: 30
x value:  30 y value: 23

Explanation:

import swaps statement imports the entire swaps module.
Variables x and y are accessed using swaps.x and swaps.y since we need to reference the module name to access its members.
swapVal function is called using swaps.swapVal(nx, ny) to swap the values of x and y.

Example 2: Using from <file_name> import <variable_names> to import specific variables

In this approach, we directly import specific variables and functions from the swaps module.

Python

from swaps import x, y, swapVal

# Directly using x, y, and swapVal without the module prefix
print("x value: ", x, "y value:", y)

# Using the swapVal function
x, y = swapVal(x, y)

print("x value: ", x, "y value:", y)

Output:

x value:  23 y value: 30
x value:  30 y value: 23

Explanation:

from swaps import x, y, swapVal imports only the specific variables and functions from the swaps module.
This allows direct access to x, y, and swapVal without needing the swaps. prefix.
swapVal function is invoked directly as swapVal(nx, ny) after the variables x and y are retrieved.

Example 3: Using from <file_name> import * to import all variables and functions

In this approach, we import everything from the swaps module. This means you don’t need to use the module name as a prefix.

Python

from swaps import *

# Using x, y, and swapVal directly
print("x value: ", x, "y value:", y)

# Using the swapVal function
x, y = swapVal(x, y)

print("x value: ", x, "y value:", y)