Is "from matplotlib import pyplot as plt" == "import matplotlib.pyplot as plt"?

Question

from matplotlib import pyplot as plt  import matplotlib.pyplot as plt  

Are the above statements equivalent? Which is more readable/better form?

Answer 1

Even though they are equivalent, I think there is a pretty good argument that the second form import matplotlib.pyplot as plt is objectively more readable:

1. It is generally customary to use import matplotlib.pyplot as plt and suggested in the matplotlib documentation (see http://matplotlib.org/users/pyplot_tutorial.html etc...) so this will be more familiar to most readers.

2. import matplotlib.pyplot as plt is shorter but no less clear.

3. import matplotlib.pyplot as plt gives an unfamiliar reader a hint that pyplot is a module, rather than a function which could be incorrectly assumed from the first form.

Answer 2

They both work the same so it is up to you which you prefer, personally I don't like typing so I would prefer the second.

from matplotlib import pyplot as plt  import matplotlib.pyplot as plt1  print(dir(plt) == dir(plt1)) True