python - How can I import a package using __import__() when the package name is only known at runtime?

Question

I have a messages folder(package) with __init__.py file and another module messages_en.py inside it. In __init__.py if I import messages_en it works, but __import__ fails with "ImportError: No module named messages_en"

import messages_en # it works
messages = __import__('messages_en') # it doesn't ?

I used to think 'import x' is just another way of saying __import__('x')

Answer 1

If it is a path problem, you should use the level argument (from docs):

__import__(name, globals={}, locals={}, fromlist=[], level=-1) -> module

Level is used to determine whether to perform
absolute or relative imports.  -1 is the original strategy of attempting
both absolute and relative imports, 0 is absolute, a positive number
is the number of parent directories to search relative to the current module.