---
id: zope-dottedname
version: "7.1"
license: ZPL-2.1
license_treatment: unclear
maintenance: active
---

# zope.dottedname — Resolver for Python dotted names.

License: unclear · Maintenance: active · Downloads: 295.0K/mo

## What it is and what it does

zope.dottedname is a utility for resolving dotted name strings into their corresponding Python objects at runtime. Given a string like 'os.path.join' or 'mypackage.submodule.MyClass', it imports the necessary modules and returns the actual object, enabling dynamic object lookup without hardcoding imports.

The package has no runtime dependencies and is maintained as part of the Zope ecosystem. It supports current Python versions (3.10 through 3.14) and runs on both CPython and PyPy. This makes it useful in frameworks and libraries that need to load user-specified classes or functions by name, such as configuration systems or plugin loaders.

Use it for:

- Load plugin classes specified in configuration files by their dotted name string
- Implement a factory pattern where object types are specified as strings in config
- Build introspection tools that need to resolve symbolic references to Python objects
- Enable dynamic middleware or handler registration in web frameworks

## Worth the install?

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

Converts dotted name strings (like 'package.module.Class') into the actual Python objects they reference, enabling dynamic imports and runtime object resolution.

Yes. It is a lightweight, stable utility with no dependencies, active maintenance, and clear security posture (no known vulnerabilities). Install it if you need to resolve dotted name strings to Python objects—a common requirement in configuration-driven or plugin-based systems. Verify ZPL-2.1 compatibility with your project first.

## Install

pip install zope-dottedname
uv add zope-dottedname
poetry add zope-dottedname

## Installing zope.dottedname

Before you install: Low friction; pure Python wheel with no runtime dependencies. Active maintenance with recent release (165 days ago) and support for current Python versions including 3.14.

License in practice: Licensed under ZPL-2.1 (Zope Public License 2.1); license treatment is unclear in the fact sheet, so verify compatibility with your project's licensing requirements before use.

Quickstart:

pip install zope.dottedname

from zope.dottedname.dottedname import resolve
obj = resolve('os.path.join')

Requires Python 3.10 or later.

Verify before relying:

- Whether ZPL-2.1 is compatible with your project's license (unclear treatment in metadata)
- Exact behavior when resolving invalid or non-existent dotted names

## Package facts

- License: ZPL-2.1 (unclear)
- Python support: supports_current
- Install friction: low
- Maintenance: active
- Downloads: 295.0K/month (top 15,000 on PyPI)
- Known vulnerabilities: none known

## Tags

resolve dotted names python, dynamic import by string, convert dotted string to object, python object resolution, string to module class lookup, dynamic-import, reflection

[View on SkillFed](https://skillfed.io/packages/zope-dottedname) · [View on PyPI](https://pypi.org/project/zope-dottedname/)