how do I determine whether a python script is imported as module or run as script?

Question

The question is rather straightforward but not answered by searching. How do I determine in a python script whether this script is imported as a module or run as a script? Is there a difference at all in python?

The problem is, that I want to evaluate the command line parameters only if run as a script, but not if the module is only imported to use it in another script. (I want to be able to use one script as both library and program.) I am afraid the vanilla way would be to build the lib and a second script that uses it, but I'd like to have a second option for small tool/libs.

Answer 1

from python docs:

When you run a Python module with

python fibo.py

the code in the module will be executed, just as if you imported it, but with the __name__ set to "__main__". That means that by adding this code at the end of your module:

if __name__ == '__main__':     # Running as a script 

you can make the file usable as a script as well as an importable module, because the code that parses the command line only runs if the module is executed as the “main” file