Python import xml does not include xml.etree.ElementTree

Question

I like to use full namespaces in python when it comes to modules/libraries for readability. I'm wondering why this doesn't work the the xml library. I figure import xml will also import etree and everything else in the namespace. At least that's behavior I've noticed for other modules.

$ ptpython
>>> import xml

>>> dir(xml.etree.ElementTree)
Traceback (most recent call last):
File "<stdin>", line 1, in <module>
AttributeError: 'module' object has no attribute 'etree'
'module' object has no attribute 'etree'

>>> import xml.etree.ElementTree

>>> dir(xml.etree.ElementTree)
['Comment', 'Element', 'ElementPath', 'ElementTree', 'HTML_EMPTY', 'PI',...]

Two questions:

Why is this happening with the xml library?
Is there a way to import it all with something short like import xml?

This answer is quite relevant: stackoverflow.com/a/7948672/771848. — alecxe
– alecxe, Commented Nov 2, 2016 at 19:24

BrenBarn · Accepted Answer · 2016-11-02 19:24:23Z

7

I figure import xml will also import etree and everything else in the namespace. At least that's behavior I've noticed for other modules.

Importing a package doesn't automatically import submodules in that package. It's true that some packages do this for you as a convenience, but it's not default behavior. In this case, you need to do what you already figured out: import xml.etree.ElementTree.

answered Nov 2, 2016 at 19:24

BrenBarn

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karuoro · Accepted Answer · 2019-09-13 20:16:29Z

2

this is a compatibility issue with previous versions of defusedxml with python3.6 ... if you are still running into the error now, upgrade defusedxml to version 0.6.0. Worked for me.

answered Sep 13, 2019 at 20:16

karuoro

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James Vare Samuel · Accepted Answer · 2016-11-04 16:55:44Z

1

Try using from xml.etree import ElementTree this works for me.

answered Nov 4, 2016 at 16:55

James Vare Samuel

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