NameError: name 'np' is not defined in Python

NameError: name 'np' is not defined in Python #

The Python "NameError: name 'np' is not defined" occurs when we use the numpy module without importing it first. To solve the error, install the module and import it (import numpy as np) before using it.

Open your terminal in your project's root directory and make sure you have the numpy module installed.

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# 👇️ in a virtual environment or using Python 2
pip install numpy

# 👇️ for python 3 (could also be pip3.10 depending on your version)
pip3 install numpy

# 👇️ if you get permissions error
sudo pip3 install numpy

# 👇️ if you don't have pip in your PATH environment variable
python -m pip install numpy

# 👇️ for python 3 (could also be pip3.10 depending on your version)
python3 -m pip install numpy

# 👇️ for Anaconda
conda install -c anaconda numpy

After you install the numpy module, import it before using it.

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# ✅ import numpy and alias it as np
import numpy as np


print(np.arange(5))

print(np.array([1, 2, 3, 4, 5]))

print(np.zeros(5))

The import statement imports the numpy module and aliases it to np, so we access the module's classes as np.array, np.zeros, etc.

Make sure you haven't misspelled numpy and are using all lowercase letters because module names are case-sensitive.

Also, make sure you haven't imported numpy in a nested scope, e.g. a function. Import the module at the top level to be able to use it throughout your code.

Conclusion #

The Python "NameError: name 'np' is not defined" occurs when we use the numpy module without importing it first. To solve the error, install the module and import it (import numpy as np) before using it.