Python import syntax

Question

Does this:

import foo as bar

do the same thing as this?

bar = __import__('foo')

Is there ever a reason to use the latter one?

I'm reading through someone elses code, I found the latter one and am not sure why they didn't use the prior syntax

Answer 1

Direct use of __import__() is rare, except in cases where you want to import a module whose name is only known at runtime.

source

Answer 2

The two statements do the same thing. The only reason to use the latter syntax is not knowing the module name in advance.