python import_error ai_generated true

AttributeError: module 'X' has no attribute 'Y'

ID: python/attributeerror-module-no-attribute

Also available as: JSON · Markdown
92%Fix Rate
92%Confidence
50Evidence
2023-01-01First Seen

Version Compatibility

VersionStatusIntroducedDeprecatedNotes
311 active — — —

Root Cause

Module imported but attribute doesn't exist. Common: file named same as module (shadowing).

generic

Workarounds

  1. 95% success Check if you have a local file named same as the module: ls *.py | grep <module> 
    # e.g., having 'random.py' shadows stdlib random module

    Sources: https://docs.python.org/3/reference/import.html#the-module-search-path

  2. 88% success Check the module version — attribute may have been added/removed in an update 
    python -c 'import module; print(module.__version__)'

    Sources: https://docs.python.org/3/library/importlib.metadata.html

Dead Ends

Common approaches that don't work:

  1. Reinstall the package 65% fail

    Usually not a package issue — it's a naming conflict in your project

  2. Use importlib to force reimport 70% fail

    Reimporting doesn't fix shadowed module names

Error Chain

Frequently confused with: