Python's imp.find_module

Source

imp.find_module(name [, path])

Parameters

name
The name of the module (directory or file without extension).
Path
  • If ommitted checks builtins first, then the sys.path directories
  • If given:
    • must be a list of directory names
    • Searches directories for the module

Return

A 3-tuple of (file, pathname, description).
File
An opened file or None if the module is a package (directory);
Pathname
The path to the file or directory.
Description
A 3-tuple of (suffix, mode, type):
  • suffix is the file extension (e.g. .py)
  • mode is one of r or rb (file was opened as readable text or binary)
  • type is one of PY_SOURCE, PY_COMPILED, C_EXTENSION, or PKG_DIRECTORY

Raise

ImportError if the module isn't found.

Subdirectories

The method doesn't accept dotted notation to indicate that the module is in a sub-package. Instead you have to find the package first then the module:
path = os.path.dirname(__file__)
f, p, d = find_module('directory', [path])
f_2, p_2, d_2 = find_module('module_name', [p]))