Why can't I "import random.shuffle"?

Question

I can do

import random
a = [1, 2, 3]
random.shuffle(a)

or

from random import shuffle
a = [1, 2, 3]
shuffle(a)

But I can't

import random.shuffle
a = [1, 2, 3]
random.shuffle(a)

which will make the interpreter complain

'random' is not a package.

Why is this?

`import a.b` imports the b module or package from a. Since `shuffle` isn’t a package, it can’t import it. — internet_user, Mar 21 '18 at 09:47
You can import packages and modules only this way and "'random' is not a package." — Klaus D., Mar 21 '18 at 09:48
Read more about packages [here](https://docs.python.org/2.7/tutorial/modules.html#packages) — Fredrik Pihl, Mar 21 '18 at 09:48
Why writing the answer as comment? Go for it and get some points — LenglBoy, Mar 21 '18 at 09:49
because it's probably a duplicate, or considered as a typo / read-the-doc question. — Jean-François Fabre, Mar 21 '18 at 10:00

score 2 · Answer 1 · answered Mar 21 '18 at 09:55

2

You can't import random.shuffle, because it's function, so error saying it's not a package is correct.

If you want to import shuffle only, you can do this:

from random import shuffle

a = [1, 2, 3]
shuffle(a)

answered Mar 21 '18 at 09:55

Justinas Marozas

2,482
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37

score 1 · Accepted Answer · answered Mar 21 '18 at 09:51

1

Just putting the comments into an answer. import a.b imports the b module or package from a. Since shuffle isn’t a package, it can’t import it. Read more about packages here.

answered Mar 21 '18 at 09:51

rajatppn

440
2
7

score -1 · Answer 3 · answered Jul 17 '21 at 18:43

-1

Import shuffle like this

from sklearn.utils import shuffle

answered Jul 17 '21 at 18:43

Shuchita Bora

257
2
5

Why can't I "import random.shuffle"?

3 Answers3