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53 | <H1><A NAME="SECTION001300000000000000000"></A> | |
54 | <A NAME="python-terms"></A> | |
55 | <BR> | |
56 | 1.3 General Python terminology | |
57 | </H1> | |
58 | ||
59 | <P> | |
60 | If you're reading this document, you probably have a good idea of what | |
61 | modules, extensions, and so forth are. Nevertheless, just to be sure | |
62 | that everyone is operating from a common starting point, we offer the | |
63 | following glossary of common Python terms: | |
64 | <DL> | |
65 | <DT><STRONG>module</STRONG></DT> | |
66 | <DD>the basic unit of code reusability in Python: a block of | |
67 | code imported by some other code. Three types of modules concern us | |
68 | here: pure Python modules, extension modules, and packages. | |
69 | ||
70 | <P> | |
71 | </DD> | |
72 | <DT><STRONG>pure Python module</STRONG></DT> | |
73 | <DD>a module written in Python and contained in a | |
74 | single <span class="file">.py</span> file (and possibly associated <span class="file">.pyc</span> and/or | |
75 | <span class="file">.pyo</span> files). Sometimes referred to as a ``pure module.'' | |
76 | ||
77 | <P> | |
78 | </DD> | |
79 | <DT><STRONG>extension module</STRONG></DT> | |
80 | <DD>a module written in the low-level language of | |
81 | the Python implementation: C/C++ for Python, Java for Jython. | |
82 | Typically contained in a single dynamically loadable pre-compiled | |
83 | file, e.g. a shared object (<span class="file">.so</span>) file for Python extensions on | |
84 | <span class="Unix">Unix</span>, a DLL (given the <span class="file">.pyd</span> extension) for Python extensions | |
85 | on Windows, or a Java class file for Jython extensions. (Note that | |
86 | currently, the Distutils only handles C/C++ extensions for Python.) | |
87 | ||
88 | <P> | |
89 | </DD> | |
90 | <DT><STRONG>package</STRONG></DT> | |
91 | <DD>a module that contains other modules; typically contained | |
92 | in a directory in the filesystem and distinguished from other | |
93 | directories by the presence of a file <span class="file">__init__.py</span>. | |
94 | ||
95 | <P> | |
96 | </DD> | |
97 | <DT><STRONG>root package</STRONG></DT> | |
98 | <DD>the root of the hierarchy of packages. (This isn't | |
99 | really a package, since it doesn't have an <span class="file">__init__.py</span> | |
100 | file. But we have to call it something.) The vast majority of the | |
101 | standard library is in the root package, as are many small, standalone | |
102 | third-party modules that don't belong to a larger module collection. | |
103 | Unlike regular packages, modules in the root package can be found in | |
104 | many directories: in fact, every directory listed in <code>sys.path</code> | |
105 | contributes modules to the root package. | |
106 | </DD> | |
107 | </DL> | |
108 | ||
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144 | <span class="release-info">Release 2.4.2, documentation updated on 28 September 2005.</span> | |
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