Python by Swaroop C H - HTML preview

Using a module's __name__

Example 8.2. Using a module's __name__

#!/usr/bin/python
# Filename: using_name.py if __name__ == '__main__':
_else: print 'This program is being run by itself' print 'I am being imported from another module'

Output

$ python using_name.py
This program is being run by itself

$ python
>>> import using_name
I am being imported from another module >>>

How It Works

Every Python module has it's__name__ defined and if this is'__main__', it implies that the module is being run standalone by the user and we can do corresponding appropriate actions.