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Python: dir

dir(), without an argument, lists the names in the current local scope.

After starting a python shell, dir() prints

>>> dir()
['__annotations__', '__builtins__', '__doc__', '__loader__', '__name__', '__package__', '__spec__']

Importing a module adds its name the local scope:

>>> import xml
>>> dir()
['__annotations__', '__builtins__', '__doc__', '__loader__', '__name__', '__package__', '__spec__', 'xml']

With an argument (which needs to represent an object, dir(obj) reports the object's attributes. In our case, the attributes of xml can now be queried with doc(xml):

>>> dir (xml)
['__all__', '__builtins__', '__cached__', '__doc__', '__file__', '__loader__', '__name__', '__package__', '__path__', '__spec__']

Importing a «sub-module» (if this is the correct terminology) does not add anything to the current local scope:

>>> import xml.dom.minidom
>>> dir()
['__annotations__', '__builtins__', '__doc__', '__loader__', '__name__', '__package__', '__spec__', 'xml']

However, it is listed in the attribute list of xml:

>>> dir(xml)
['__all__', '__builtins__', '__cached__', '__doc__', '__file__', '__loader__', '__name__', '__package__', '__path__', '__spec__', 'dom']
>>> dir (xml.dom)
['DOMException', 'DOMSTRING_SIZE_ERR', 'DomstringSizeErr', 'EMPTY_NAMESPACE', … etc. etc. … ]

A name can be removed from a namespace with the del statement:

>>> del xml
>>> dir()
['__annotations__', '__builtins__', '__doc__', '__loader__', '__name__', '__package__', '__spec__']

Python: dir

See also