importlib-resources
Read resources from Python packages
Decision gist · record as of 2026-08-14
Yes. This is a production-stable, actively maintained backport of a core stdlib module with no security vulnerabilities, minimal dependencies, and permissive licensing. Install it if you need to read package resources on Python 3.10+ or if you're migrating from pkg_resources to a more stable API. The low install friction and broad adoption (top 1000 packages) make it a safe, standard choice.AI-flagged interpretation of the facts on this page — verify before relying
Before you install
- Requires Python 3.10 or later; for older Python versions, use an earlier release of this package.
- Low install friction with a single lightweight dependency (zipp).
- Active maintenance with a recent release; the package is production-stable and part of Python's standard library evolution path.
License · maintenance · safety
Apache-2.0 (permissive) — Apache-2.0 permissive license allows use in most commercial and open-source projects without significant restrictions.
last release 2026-04-12 (124 days) · last repo commit 2026-04-13 · 73 stars
0 known vulnerabilities (OSV.dev, 2026-08-14) · 103,538,181 downloads/mo, #332 on PyPI
Alternatives
Verify before relying
pip install importlib-resources
from importlib.resources import files
data = files('my_package').joinpath('data.txt').read_text()- Whether the backport includes all features from the latest stdlib version or only a subset
- Performance characteristics compared to pkg_resources or direct file I/O
- Specific edge cases or known limitations when used on Python 3.10+
What it is and what it does
importlib_resources is a backport of Python's standard library importlib.resources module, designed to provide a stable, well-defined API for reading resource files bundled with Python packages. It replaces the older pkg_resources approach with a cleaner interface that the Python standard library itself has adopted.
The package is primarily useful when you need to access data files, templates, or other resources packaged alongside your Python code in a way that works reliably across different installation methods (wheels, source distributions, zip files). It depends only on zipp and installs with minimal friction. Since features introduced in this backport are regularly merged into CPython's stdlib, the package serves as a forward-compatibility layer for developers targeting multiple Python versions.
Use it for
- Access configuration files or data bundled with an installed package without hardcoding filesystem paths
- Load template or asset files from a package in a way that works with both editable installs and wheels
- Migrate code away from pkg_resources to a more stable, stdlib-aligned API
- Support older Python versions while using the modern importlib.resources interface
- Read package metadata or embedded resources in a cross-platform manner
Worth the install?
AI-flagged interpretation of the facts on this page. Verify before relying on it.
Yes.
This is a production-stable, actively maintained backport of a core stdlib module with no security vulnerabilities, minimal dependencies, and permissive licensing. Install it if you need to read package resources on Python 3.10+ or if you're migrating from pkg_resources to a more stable API. The low install friction and broad adoption (top 1000 packages) make it a safe, standard choice.
Install
importlib-resources on PyPI
Before you install
Low install friction with a single lightweight dependency (zipp). Active maintenance with a recent release; the package is production-stable and part of Python's standard library evolution path.
Requires Python 3.10 or later; for older Python versions, use an earlier release of this package.
License in practice
Apache-2.0 permissive license allows use in most commercial and open-source projects without significant restrictions.
Quickstart
pip install importlib-resources
from importlib.resources import files
data = files('my_package').joinpath('data.txt').read_text()Verify before relying
- Whether the backport includes all features from the latest stdlib version or only a subset
- Performance characteristics compared to pkg_resources or direct file I/O
- Specific edge cases or known limitations when used on Python 3.10+
Package facts
| License | Apache-2.0 permissive |
| Python support | Supports the current Python release >=3.10 |
| Install friction | Low. Pure-Python wheel |
| Runtime dependencies | 1 packagezipp |
| Maintenance | Actively maintained 124 days since the last release |
| Last repo commit | |
| First released | |
| Downloads | 103,538,181 / month, #332 on PyPI 30-day window, as of 2026-08-14 |
| Known vulnerabilities | None known OSV.dev, checked 2026-08-14 |
| Classifiers | Development Status :: 5 - Production/StableIntended Audience :: DevelopersProgramming Language :: Python :: 3Programming Language :: Python :: 3 :: Only |
Evidence: importlib_resources-7.1.0-py3-none-any.whl
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