Why am I getting \'ModuleNotFoundError: No module named x\' when using relative imports in Python 3?

Relative Imports and ModuleNotFoundError: No module named x

When attempting to leverage relative imports in Python 3, programmers occasionally encounter the "ModuleNotFoundError: No module named x" error. This error signifies the interpreter's inability to locate a module with that specific name during runtime.

To comprehend this issue, it is crucial to distinguish between absolute and relative imports. Absolute imports are utilized to import modules available on the sys.path, whereas relative imports are employed to import modules relative to the current module. However, relative imports necessitate that the current module belong to a package.

The provided code snippet consists of two files: test.py and config.py. config.py includes functions and variables, while test.py imports config and accesses its 'debug' parameter. Despite the presence of an __init__.py file, a "ModuleNotFoundError: No module named 'config'" error occurs.

This error stems from the fact that the file being executed (test.py) is not housed within a package structure. Consequently, it is unable to perform relative imports. Employing absolute imports would solve this issue, as seen in the modified code snippet below:

<code class="python"># test.py
import ryan.config  # Replace config with ryan.config for absolute import
print(ryan.config.debug)</code>

Alternatively, creating a package structure and placing test.py within it would allow for relative imports. The directory structure could appear as follows:

.
├── __init__.py
└── ryan
    ├── __init__.py
    ├── config.py
    └── test.py

In conclusion, relative imports are permissible only when the current module belongs to a package. If the file being executed lacks a package structure, absolute imports should be utilized to avoid "ModuleNotFoundError" exceptions.

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