A library refers to a collection of modules that together cater to a specific type of needs or application. Module is a file(.py file) containing variables, class definitions statements, and functions related to a particular task. Python modules that come preloaded with Python are called standard library modules.
Creating our module
We will be creating a module named tempConversion.py that converts values from F to C and vice-versa.
Python3
# tempConversion.py to convert between # between Fahrenheit and Centigrade # function to convert F to C def to_centigrade(x): return 5 * (x - 32 ) / 9.0 # function to convert C to F def to_fahrenheit(x): return 9 * x / 5.0 + 32 # constants # water freezing temperature(in Celsius) FREEZING_C = 0.0 # water freezing temperature(in Fahrenheit) FREEZING_F = 32.0 |
Now save this python file and the module is created. This module can be used in other programs after importing it.
Importing a module
In python, in order to use a module, it has to be imported. Python provides multiple ways to import modules in a program :
- To import the entire module :
import module_name
- To import only a certain portion of the module :
from module_name import object_name
- To import all the objects of the module :
from module_name import *
Using an imported module
After importing the module, we can use any function/definition of the imported module as per the following syntax:
module_name.function_name()
This way of referring to the module’s object is called dot notation.
If we import a function using from, there is no need to mention the module name and the dot notation to use that function.
Example 1 : Importing the whole module :
Python3
# importing the module import tempConversion # using a function of the module print (tempConversion.to_centigrade( 12 )) # fetching an object of the module print (tempConversion.FREEZING_F) |
Output :
-11.11111111111111 32.0
Example 2 : Importing particular components of the module :
Python3
# importing the to_fahrenheit() method from tempConversion import to_fahrenheit # using the imported method print (to_fahrenheit( 20 )) # importing the FREEZING_C object from tempConversion import FREEZING_C # printing the imported variable print (FREEZING_C) |
Output :
68.0 0.0
Python standard library functions
The python interpreter has a number of functions built into it that are always available. To use these built-in functions of python directly call the functions, like function_name(). Some built-in library functions are : input(), int(), float() etc
Python3
num = 5 print ( "Number entered = " , num) # oct() converts to octal number-string onum = oct (num) # hex() converts to hexadecimal number-string hnum = hex (num) print ( "Octal conversion yields" , onum) print ( "Hexadecimal conversion yields" , hnum) print (num) |
Output :
Number entered = 5 Octal conversion yields 0o5 Hexadecimal conversion yields 0x5 5