Import arbitrary python source file. (Python 3.3+)

Found a solution from importlib test code.

Using importlib.machinery.SourceFileLoader:

>>> import importlib.machinery
>>> loader = importlib.machinery.SourceFileLoader('a_b', '/tmp/a-b.txt')
>>> mod = loader.load_module()
>>> mod
<module 'a_b' from '/tmp/a-b.txt'>

NOTE: only works in Python 3.3+.

UPDATE Loader.load_module is deprecated since Python 3.4. Use Loader.exec_module instead:

>>> import types
>>> import importlib.machinery
>>> loader = importlib.machinery.SourceFileLoader('a_b', '/tmp/a-b.txt')
>>> mod = types.ModuleType(loader.name)
>>> loader.exec_module(mod)
>>> mod
<module 'a_b'>

---

>>> import importlib.machinery
>>> import importlib.util
>>> loader = importlib.machinery.SourceFileLoader('a_b', '/tmp/a-b.txt')
>>> spec = importlib.util.spec_from_loader(loader.name, loader)
>>> mod = importlib.util.module_from_spec(spec)
>>> loader.exec_module(mod)
>>> mod
<module 'a_b' from '/tmp/a-b.txt'>

Updated for Python >= 3.8:

Short version:

>>> # https://docs.python.org/3/library/importlib.html#importing-a-source-file-directly
>>> import importlib.util, sys
>>> spec = importlib.util.spec_from_file_location(modname, fname)
>>> module = importlib.util.module_from_spec(spec)
>>> sys.modules[modname] = module
>>> spec.loader.exec_module(module)

Full version:

>>> import importlib.util
>>> import sys
>>> from pathlib import Path
>>> from typing import TYPE_CHECKING
>>> 
>>> 
>>> if TYPE_CHECKING:
...     import types
...
...
>>> def import_source_file(fname: str | Path, modname: str) -> "types.ModuleType":
...     """
...     Import a Python source file and return the loaded module.

...     Args:
...         fname: The full path to the source file.  It may container characters like `.`
...             or `-`.
...         modname: The name for the loaded module.  It may contain `.` and even characters
...             that would normally not be allowed (e.g., `-`).
...     Return:
...         The imported module

...     Raises:
...         ImportError: If the file cannot be imported (e.g, if it's not a `.py` file or if
...             it does not exist).
...         Exception: Any exception that is raised while executing the module (e.g.,
...             :exc:`SyntaxError).  These are errors made by the author of the module!
...     """
...     # https://docs.python.org/3/library/importlib.html#importing-a-source-file-directly
...     spec = importlib.util.spec_from_file_location(modname, fname)
...     if spec is None:
...         raise ImportError(f"Could not load spec for module '{modname}' at: {fname}")
...     module = importlib.util.module_from_spec(spec)
...     sys.modules[modname] = module
...     try:
...         spec.loader.exec_module(module)
...     except FileNotFoundError as e:
...         raise ImportError(f"{e.strerror}: {fname}") from e
...     return module
...
>>> import_source_file(Path("/tmp/my_mod.py"), "my_mod")
<module 'my_mod' from '/tmp/my_mod.py'>

Original answer for Python 3.5 and 3.6

Shorter version of @falsetru 's solution:

>>> import importlib.util
>>> spec = importlib.util.spec_from_file_location('a_b', '/tmp/a-b.py')
>>> mod = importlib.util.module_from_spec(spec)
>>> spec.loader.exec_module(mod)
>>> mod
<module 'a_b' from '/tmp/a-b.txt'>

I tested it with Python 3.5 and 3.6.

According to the comments, it does not work with arbitrary file extensions.

Similar to @falsetru but for Python 3.5+ and accounting for what the importlib doc states on using importlib.util.module_from_spec over types.ModuleType:

This function [importlib.util.module_from_spec] is preferred over using types.ModuleType to create a new module as spec is used to set as many import-controlled attributes on the module as possible.

We are able to import any file with importlib alone by modifying the importlib.machinery.SOURCE_SUFFIXES list.

import importlib

importlib.machinery.SOURCE_SUFFIXES.append('') # empty string to allow any file
spec = importlib.util.spec_from_file_location(module_name, file_path)
module = importlib.util.module_from_spec(spec)
spec.loader.exec_module(module)
# if desired: importlib.machinery.SOURCE_SUFFIXES.pop()