Now that you know what modules are, let’s take it one step further and talk about packages in Python.

A package is a way to group related modules together in a single, organized folder.
If modules are like individual tools, a package is like a toolbox containing multiple tools neatly arranged.

What Makes a Package?

A package is simply a directory that contains:

• An __init__.py file (even if it’s empty)
• One or more module files (.py)
• Optional sub-packages (folders with their own __init__.py)

The __init__.py file is executed when the package is imported.
It can be used to set up default imports, define variables, or run initialization code.

Example Package Structure

Here’s a simple package called mypackage:

mypackage/
**init**.py
module1.py
module2.py

Using __init__.py for Default Imports

Inside __init__.py, you can choose what parts of the package are directly available when someone imports it.

Example — in mypackage/__init__.py:

from .module1 import my_function
from .module2 import another_function

This way, when you import the package, you can use these functions without having to import each module individually.

Importing and Using the Package

Example — in another Python file:

import mypackage

mypackage.my_function()
mypackage.another_function()

Here:

• import mypackage runs the code in __init__.py.
• The functions from module1 and module2 are available because we imported them in __init__.py.

TIP: You can still import specific modules from a package if you prefer:
from mypackage import module1

Why Use Packages?

Packages help you: • Organize your code into logical sections. • Reuse related modules across different projects. • Scale your programs as they grow in complexity.

Whether you’re working on a large application or just keeping your code tidy, packages are a cornerstone of clean, maintainable Python projects.

Next, we’ll learn more about importing modules and packages using different techniques — and when to choose each one.