Python - import in if

Question

I wrote little wrapper for urllib (python3). Is it proper and safe to import module in if?

if self.response_encodi         


        

Answer 1

Is it safe? Yes. As Martijin's answer pointed out that Official Python use this.

Is it proper? Depends. Python performance docs points out that even though python can avoid import the same module, there is still overhead.

So i believe you should ask yourself, how often the if statement is true. If very often, then there will be large overhead, and you should import it at the beginning of the file. If not often, then import in if statement is a wise choice.