---
id: classify-imports
version: "4.5.0"
license: MIT
license_treatment: permissive
maintenance: active
---

# classify-imports — Utilities for refactoring imports in python-like syntax.

License: permissive · Maintenance: active · Downloads: 382.4K/mo

## What it is and what it does

classify-imports is a Python utility library for parsing and organizing import statements according to standard conventions. It classifies imports into four standard categories—future, builtin, third-party, and application—and provides functions to split compound imports, sort import groups, and determine the classification of any module name. The library works with import objects parsed from Python-like syntax, making it useful for code refactoring tools, linters, and import management scripts.

The package has no external runtime dependencies and is distributed as a pure Python wheel, making installation straightforward. It targets modern Python versions and supports both CPython and PyPy. With active maintenance and recent releases, it is suitable for integration into build pipelines or as a foundation for import-related tooling.

Use it for:

- Automatically organize and group imports in Python files according to standard conventions during code refactoring.
- Build custom import linting or validation tools that need to classify and partition imports by type.
- Parse and manipulate import statements programmatically in code generation or AST transformation scripts.
- Integrate import sorting logic into editor plugins or pre-commit hooks for consistent import organization.
- Analyze Python codebases to identify and report on import patterns and dependencies.

## Worth the install?

AI-flagged interpretation of the facts above — verify before relying.

Parses, classifies, and sorts Python import statements into standard groups (future, builtin, third-party, application) and provides utilities to split and refactor imports programmatically.

Yes. The package is lightweight, actively maintained, has no dependencies, and solves a specific problem well. Install it if you need to programmatically classify or sort Python imports; skip it if you only need a command-line import formatter. The MIT license and recent activity make it a low-risk choice.

## Install

pip install classify-imports
uv add classify-imports
poetry add classify-imports

## Installing classify-imports

Before you install: Low friction: pure Python wheel with no runtime dependencies. Active maintenance with a recent release and current Python version support.

License in practice: MIT license permits commercial and private use with minimal restrictions; you may use, modify, and distribute this package freely provided you retain the license notice.

Quickstart:

pip install classify-imports

from classify_imports import import_obj_from_str, sort, classify_base

obj = import_obj_from_str('import sys')
print(classify_base('sys'))  # 'BUILTIN'

partitioned = sort([import_obj_from_str('import sys'), import_obj_from_str('import requests')])

Requires Python 3.10 or later.

Verify before relying:

- Whether the package integrates with common import-sorting tools or is primarily for programmatic use.
- Performance characteristics when processing large import blocks or files with many imports.

## Package facts

- License: MIT (permissive)
- Python support: supports_current
- Install friction: low
- Maintenance: active
- Downloads: 382.4K/month (top 15,000 on PyPI)
- Known vulnerabilities: none known

## Tags

python import sorting, classify imports builtin third-party, refactor import statements, import statement parser, organize python imports, import grouping utility, import-refactoring, code-analysis

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