Best Practices for Relative Imports
Limit the Depth of Relative Imports
While relative imports can be useful, it's generally recommended to limit the depth of relative imports to no more than 3-4 levels. Deeper relative imports can make your code harder to read and maintain, and increase the risk of circular imports or other issues.
If you find yourself needing to go deeper than 4 levels, consider restructuring your project to have a more flat hierarchy or using absolute imports instead.
Use Absolute Imports for Top-level Modules
For top-level modules or packages in your project, it's generally better to use absolute imports. This makes your code more self-contained and easier to understand, as readers don't have to trace the relative import path.
## Good
from my_project.subpackage.module import some_function
## Bad
from .subpackage.module import some_function
Avoid Mixing Relative and Absolute Imports
It's best to choose a consistent approach and stick to either relative or absolute imports within a single module. Mixing the two can make your code harder to read and maintain.
Document Relative Import Paths
If your project does use relative imports, be sure to document the import paths clearly in your code or project documentation. This will help other developers (and your future self) understand the project structure and how to navigate the codebase.
Use Relative Imports Judiciously
Relative imports can be a powerful tool, but they should be used judiciously. Overuse of relative imports can make your code harder to understand and maintain. Balance the use of relative and absolute imports to keep your project structure clear and your code readable.
By following these best practices, you can effectively leverage relative imports in your Python projects while maintaining code quality and readability.