Python: Calling local function when an imported module has a function with same name

Question

I have imported a file common.py into the copyPasteAnywhereTest.py file. common.py has some common functions defined in it that I need to call in the current file viz. copyPasteAnywhereTest.py. But there is one particular function copyText() that I have defined in both the files. By default, copyText() from common.py is being called. I want to call the function that I have defined locally and not the one that I defined in the imported file. The code is something like below:

This is one file common.py

#common.py

def copyText():
    #Function definition

#Some more functions defined in this file.

This is the script file copyPasteAnywhereTest.py

#copyPasteAnywhereTest.py

import os
import sys

sys.path.append(os.path.abspath("../z_common/"))

import common

def main():
    #some code
    copyText()    #Calling the copyText() function

def copyText():
    #Code here.

copyText() from common.py was called whether I imported using import common or from common import functionName

The simplest solution was to change the name of copyText() in copyPasteAnywhereTest.py and call the same. But I want to know the proper solution and not a workaround.

Just to be clear, I had't even imported the copyText() function in copyPasteAnywhereTest.py (i.e., from common import copyText) earlier while using the from module import function syntax. I have just imported the required functions using from common import *functionName*.

P.S. - I am quite new to Python. Don't mind if the question is a stupid one. I've tried googling and searching over the internet but I couldn't find an answer. Hence, the question.

Answer 1

Rather than importing like this:

from common import copyText

do

import common

and in your code prefix it with the module name and a dot:

result = common.copyText()

By importing just the module, and referring to its contents using dotted notation you prevent these name collisions in your modules namespace.