init.py

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Jun 12, 2024 · Fundamentals

Understanding the Role of __init__.py in Python Packages

The article explains how the __init__.py file marks a directory as a Python package, enables package initialization, controls namespace exposure, defines package‑level variables and metadata, supports dynamic loading, performance optimizations, and can serve as an entry point, while noting changes introduced in Python 3.3 and PEP 420.