Configuration options for isort

As a code formatter isort has opinions. However, it also allows you to have your own. If your opinions disagree with those of isort, isort will disagree but commit to your way of formatting. To enable this, isort exposes a plethora of options to specify how you want your imports sorted, organized, and formatted.

Too busy to build your perfect isort configuration? For curated common configurations, see isort's built-in profiles.

Python Version

Tells isort to set the known standard library based on the specified Python version. Default is to assume any Python 3 version could be the target, and use a union of all stdlib modules across versions. If auto is specified, the version of the interpreter used to run isort (currently: 39) will be used.

Type: String
Default: py3
Config default: 3
Python & Config File Name: py_version
CLI Flags:

• --py
• --python-version

Examples:

Example .isort.cfg

[settings]
py_version=39

Example pyproject.toml

[tool.isort]
py_version=39

Example cli usage

isort --py 39

Force To Top

Force specific imports to the top of their appropriate section.

Type: List of Strings
Default: frozenset()
Config default: []
Python & Config File Name: force_to_top
CLI Flags:

• -t
• --top

Skip

Files that isort should skip over. If you want to skip multiple files you should specify twice: --skip file1 --skip file2. Values can be file names, directory names or file paths. To skip all files in a nested path use --skip-glob.

Type: List of Strings
Default: ('.bzr', '.direnv', '.eggs', '.git', '.hg', '.mypy_cache', '.nox', '.pants.d', '.svn', '.tox', '.venv', '__pypackages__', '_build', 'buck-out', 'build', 'dist', 'node_modules', 'venv')
Config default: ['.bzr', '.direnv', '.eggs', '.git', '.hg', '.mypy_cache', '.nox', '.pants.d', '.svn', '.tox', '.venv', '__pypackages__', '_build', 'buck-out', 'build', 'dist', 'node_modules', 'venv']
Python & Config File Name: skip
CLI Flags:

• -s
• --skip

Examples:

Example .isort.cfg

[settings]
skip=.gitignore,.dockerignore

Example pyproject.toml

[tool.isort]
skip = [".gitignore", ".dockerignore"]

Extend Skip

Extends --skip to add additional files that isort should skip over. If you want to skip multiple files you should specify twice: --skip file1 --skip file2. Values can be file names, directory names or file paths. To skip all files in a nested path use --skip-glob.

Type: List of Strings
Default: frozenset()
Config default: []
Python & Config File Name: extend_skip
CLI Flags:

• --extend-skip

Examples:

Example .isort.cfg

[settings]
extend_skip=.md,.json

Example pyproject.toml

[tool.isort]
extend_skip = [".md", ".json"]

Skip Glob

Files that isort should skip over.

Type: List of Strings
Default: frozenset()
Config default: []
Python & Config File Name: skip_glob
CLI Flags:

• --sg
• --skip-glob

Examples:

Example .isort.cfg

[settings]
skip_glob=docs/*

Example pyproject.toml

[tool.isort]
skip_glob = ["docs/*"]

Extend Skip Glob

Additional files that isort should skip over (extending --skip-glob).

Type: List of Strings
Default: frozenset()
Config default: []
Python & Config File Name: extend_skip_glob
CLI Flags:

• --extend-skip-glob

Examples:

Example .isort.cfg

[settings]
extend_skip_glob=my_*_module.py,test/*

Example pyproject.toml

[tool.isort]
extend_skip_glob = ["my_*_module.py", "test/*"]

Skip Gitignore

Treat project as a git repository and ignore files listed in .gitignore. NOTE: This requires git to be installed and accessible from the same shell as isort.

Type: Bool
Default: False
Config default: false
Python & Config File Name: skip_gitignore
CLI Flags:

• --gitignore
• --skip-gitignore

Line Length

The max length of an import line (used for wrapping long imports).

Type: Int
Default: 79
Config default: 79
Python & Config File Name: line_length
CLI Flags:

• -l
• -w
• --line-length
• --line-width

Wrap Length

Specifies how long lines that are wrapped should be, if not set line_length is used. NOTE: wrap_length must be LOWER than or equal to line_length.

Type: Int
Default: 0
Config default: 0
Python & Config File Name: wrap_length
CLI Flags:

• --wl
• --wrap-length

Line Ending

Forces line endings to the specified value. If not set, values will be guessed per-file.

Type: String
Default:
Config default:
Python & Config File Name: line_ending
CLI Flags:

• --le
• --line-ending

Sections

What sections isort should display imports for and in what order

Type: List of Strings
Default: ('FUTURE', 'STDLIB', 'THIRDPARTY', 'FIRSTPARTY', 'LOCALFOLDER')
Config default: ['FUTURE', 'STDLIB', 'THIRDPARTY', 'FIRSTPARTY', 'LOCALFOLDER']
Python & Config File Name: sections
CLI Flags: Not Supported

No Sections

Put all imports into the same section bucket

Type: Bool
Default: False
Config default: false
Python & Config File Name: no_sections
CLI Flags:

• --ds
• --no-sections

Known Future Library

Force isort to recognize a module as part of Python's internal future compatibility libraries. WARNING: this overrides the behavior of future handling and therefore can result in code that can't execute. If you're looking to add dependencies such as six, a better option is to create another section below --future using custom sections. See: https://github.com/PyCQA/isort#custom-sections-and-ordering and the discussion here: https://github.com/PyCQA/isort/issues/1463.

Type: List of Strings
Default: ('__future__',)
Config default: ['__future__']
Python & Config File Name: known_future_library
CLI Flags:

• -f
• --future

Known Third Party

Force isort to recognize a module as being part of a third party library.

Type: List of Strings
Default: frozenset()
Config default: []
Python & Config File Name: known_third_party
CLI Flags:

• -o
• --thirdparty

Examples:

Example .isort.cfg

[settings]
known_third_party=my_module1,my_module2

Example pyproject.toml

[tool.isort]
known_third_party = ["my_module1", "my_module2"]

Known First Party

Force isort to recognize a module as being part of the current python project.

Type: List of Strings
Default: frozenset()
Config default: []
Python & Config File Name: known_first_party
CLI Flags:

• -p
• --project

Examples:

Example .isort.cfg

[settings]
known_first_party=my_module1,my_module2

Example pyproject.toml

[tool.isort]
known_first_party = ["my_module1", "my_module2"]

Known Local Folder

Force isort to recognize a module as being a local folder. Generally, this is reserved for relative imports (from . import module).

Type: List of Strings
Default: frozenset()
Config default: []
Python & Config File Name: known_local_folder
CLI Flags:

• --known-local-folder

Examples:

Example .isort.cfg

[settings]
known_local_folder=my_module1,my_module2

Example pyproject.toml

[tool.isort]
known_local_folder = ["my_module1", "my_module2"]

Known Standard Library

Force isort to recognize a module as part of Python's standard library.

Type: List of Strings
Default: ('_ast', '_dummy_thread', '_thread', 'abc', 'aifc', 'argparse', 'array', 'ast', 'asynchat', 'asyncio', 'asyncore', 'atexit', 'audioop', 'base64', 'bdb', 'binascii', 'binhex', 'bisect', 'builtins', 'bz2', 'cProfile', 'calendar', 'cgi', 'cgitb', 'chunk', 'cmath', 'cmd', 'code', 'codecs', 'codeop', 'collections', 'colorsys', 'compileall', 'concurrent', 'configparser', 'contextlib', 'contextvars', 'copy', 'copyreg', 'crypt', 'csv', 'ctypes', 'curses', 'dataclasses', 'datetime', 'dbm', 'decimal', 'difflib', 'dis', 'distutils', 'doctest', 'dummy_threading', 'email', 'encodings', 'ensurepip', 'enum', 'errno', 'faulthandler', 'fcntl', 'filecmp', 'fileinput', 'fnmatch', 'formatter', 'fpectl', 'fractions', 'ftplib', 'functools', 'gc', 'getopt', 'getpass', 'gettext', 'glob', 'graphlib', 'grp', 'gzip', 'hashlib', 'heapq', 'hmac', 'html', 'http', 'imaplib', 'imghdr', 'imp', 'importlib', 'inspect', 'io', 'ipaddress', 'itertools', 'json', 'keyword', 'lib2to3', 'linecache', 'locale', 'logging', 'lzma', 'macpath', 'mailbox', 'mailcap', 'marshal', 'math', 'mimetypes', 'mmap', 'modulefinder', 'msilib', 'msvcrt', 'multiprocessing', 'netrc', 'nis', 'nntplib', 'ntpath', 'numbers', 'operator', 'optparse', 'os', 'ossaudiodev', 'parser', 'pathlib', 'pdb', 'pickle', 'pickletools', 'pipes', 'pkgutil', 'platform', 'plistlib', 'poplib', 'posix', 'posixpath', 'pprint', 'profile', 'pstats', 'pty', 'pwd', 'py_compile', 'pyclbr', 'pydoc', 'queue', 'quopri', 'random', 're', 'readline', 'reprlib', 'resource', 'rlcompleter', 'runpy', 'sched', 'secrets', 'select', 'selectors', 'shelve', 'shlex', 'shutil', 'signal', 'site', 'smtpd', 'smtplib', 'sndhdr', 'socket', 'socketserver', 'spwd', 'sqlite3', 'sre', 'sre_compile', 'sre_constants', 'sre_parse', 'ssl', 'stat', 'statistics', 'string', 'stringprep', 'struct', 'subprocess', 'sunau', 'symbol', 'symtable', 'sys', 'sysconfig', 'syslog', 'tabnanny', 'tarfile', 'telnetlib', 'tempfile', 'termios', 'test', 'textwrap', 'threading', 'time', 'timeit', 'tkinter', 'token', 'tokenize', 'trace', 'traceback', 'tracemalloc', 'tty', 'turtle', 'turtledemo', 'types', 'typing', 'unicodedata', 'unittest', 'urllib', 'uu', 'uuid', 'venv', 'warnings', 'wave', 'weakref', 'webbrowser', 'winreg', 'winsound', 'wsgiref', 'xdrlib', 'xml', 'xmlrpc', 'zipapp', 'zipfile', 'zipimport', 'zlib', 'zoneinfo')
Config default: ['_ast', '_dummy_thread', '_thread', 'abc', 'aifc', 'argparse', 'array', 'ast', 'asynchat', 'asyncio', 'asyncore', 'atexit', 'audioop', 'base64', 'bdb', 'binascii', 'binhex', 'bisect', 'builtins', 'bz2', 'cProfile', 'calendar', 'cgi', 'cgitb', 'chunk', 'cmath', 'cmd', 'code', 'codecs', 'codeop', 'collections', 'colorsys', 'compileall', 'concurrent', 'configparser', 'contextlib', 'contextvars', 'copy', 'copyreg', 'crypt', 'csv', 'ctypes', 'curses', 'dataclasses', 'datetime', 'dbm', 'decimal', 'difflib', 'dis', 'distutils', 'doctest', 'dummy_threading', 'email', 'encodings', 'ensurepip', 'enum', 'errno', 'faulthandler', 'fcntl', 'filecmp', 'fileinput', 'fnmatch', 'formatter', 'fpectl', 'fractions', 'ftplib', 'functools', 'gc', 'getopt', 'getpass', 'gettext', 'glob', 'graphlib', 'grp', 'gzip', 'hashlib', 'heapq', 'hmac', 'html', 'http', 'imaplib', 'imghdr', 'imp', 'importlib', 'inspect', 'io', 'ipaddress', 'itertools', 'json', 'keyword', 'lib2to3', 'linecache', 'locale', 'logging', 'lzma', 'macpath', 'mailbox', 'mailcap', 'marshal', 'math', 'mimetypes', 'mmap', 'modulefinder', 'msilib', 'msvcrt', 'multiprocessing', 'netrc', 'nis', 'nntplib', 'ntpath', 'numbers', 'operator', 'optparse', 'os', 'ossaudiodev', 'parser', 'pathlib', 'pdb', 'pickle', 'pickletools', 'pipes', 'pkgutil', 'platform', 'plistlib', 'poplib', 'posix', 'posixpath', 'pprint', 'profile', 'pstats', 'pty', 'pwd', 'py_compile', 'pyclbr', 'pydoc', 'queue', 'quopri', 'random', 're', 'readline', 'reprlib', 'resource', 'rlcompleter', 'runpy', 'sched', 'secrets', 'select', 'selectors', 'shelve', 'shlex', 'shutil', 'signal', 'site', 'smtpd', 'smtplib', 'sndhdr', 'socket', 'socketserver', 'spwd', 'sqlite3', 'sre', 'sre_compile', 'sre_constants', 'sre_parse', 'ssl', 'stat', 'statistics', 'string', 'stringprep', 'struct', 'subprocess', 'sunau', 'symbol', 'symtable', 'sys', 'sysconfig', 'syslog', 'tabnanny', 'tarfile', 'telnetlib', 'tempfile', 'termios', 'test', 'textwrap', 'threading', 'time', 'timeit', 'tkinter', 'token', 'tokenize', 'trace', 'traceback', 'tracemalloc', 'tty', 'turtle', 'turtledemo', 'types', 'typing', 'unicodedata', 'unittest', 'urllib', 'uu', 'uuid', 'venv', 'warnings', 'wave', 'weakref', 'webbrowser', 'winreg', 'winsound', 'wsgiref', 'xdrlib', 'xml', 'xmlrpc', 'zipapp', 'zipfile', 'zipimport', 'zlib', 'zoneinfo']
Python & Config File Name: known_standard_library
CLI Flags:

• -b
• --builtin

Examples:

Example .isort.cfg

[settings]
known_standard_library=my_module1,my_module2

Example pyproject.toml

[tool.isort]
known_standard_library = ["my_module1", "my_module2"]

Extra Standard Library

Extra modules to be included in the list of ones in Python's standard library.

Type: List of Strings
Default: frozenset()
Config default: []
Python & Config File Name: extra_standard_library
CLI Flags:

• --extra-builtin

Examples:

Example .isort.cfg

[settings]
extra_standard_library=my_module1,my_module2

Example pyproject.toml

[tool.isort]
extra_standard_library = ["my_module1", "my_module2"]

Known Other

known_OTHER is how imports of custom sections are defined. OTHER is a placeholder for the custom section name.

Type: Dict
Default: {}
Config default: {}
Python & Config File Name: known_other
CLI Flags: Not Supported

Examples:

Example .isort.cfg

[settings]
sections=FUTURE,STDLIB,THIRDPARTY,AIRFLOW,FIRSTPARTY,LOCALFOLDER
known_airflow=airflow

Example pyproject.toml

[tool.isort]
sections = ['FUTURE', 'STDLIB', 'THIRDPARTY', 'AIRFLOW', 'FIRSTPARTY', 'LOCALFOLDER']
known_airflow = ['airflow']

Multi Line Output

Multi line output (0-grid, 1-vertical, 2-hanging, 3-vert-hanging, 4-vert-grid, 5-vert-grid-grouped, 6-deprecated-alias-for-5, 7-noqa, 8-vertical-hanging-indent-bracket, 9-vertical-prefix-from-module-import, 10-hanging-indent-with-parentheses).

Type: Wrapmodes
Default: WrapModes.GRID
Config default: WrapModes.GRID
Python & Config File Name: multi_line_output
CLI Flags:

• -m
• --multi-line

Examples:

Example .isort.cfg

[settings]
multi_line_output=3

Example pyproject.toml

[tool.isort]
multi_line_output = 3

Forced Separate

Force certain sub modules to show separately

Type: List of Strings
Default: ()
Config default: []
Python & Config File Name: forced_separate
CLI Flags: Not Supported

Examples:

Example .isort.cfg

[settings]
forced_separate=glob_exp1,glob_exp2

Example pyproject.toml

[tool.isort]
forced_separate = ["glob_exp1", "glob_exp2"]

Indent

String to place for indents defaults to " " (4 spaces).

Type: String
Default:
Config default:
Python & Config File Name: indent
CLI Flags:

• -i
• --indent

Comment Prefix

Allows customizing how isort prefixes comments that it adds or modifies on import linesGenerally # (two spaces before a pound symbol) is use, though one space is also common.

Type: String
Default: #
Config default: #
Python & Config File Name: comment_prefix
CLI Flags: Not Supported

Length Sort

Sort imports by their string length.

Type: Bool
Default: False
Config default: false
Python & Config File Name: length_sort
CLI Flags:

• --ls
• --length-sort

Length Sort Straight

Sort straight imports by their string length. Similar to length_sort but applies only to straight imports and doesn't affect from imports.

Type: Bool
Default: False
Config default: false
Python & Config File Name: length_sort_straight
CLI Flags:

• --lss
• --length-sort-straight

Length Sort Sections

Sort the given sections by length

Type: List of Strings
Default: frozenset()
Config default: []
Python & Config File Name: length_sort_sections
CLI Flags: Not Supported

Examples:

Example .isort.cfg

[settings]
length_sort_sections=future,stdlib

Example pyproject.toml

[tool.isort]
length_sort_sections = ["future", "stdlib"]

Add Imports

Adds the specified import line to all files, automatically determining correct placement.

Type: List of Strings
Default: frozenset()
Config default: []
Python & Config File Name: add_imports
CLI Flags:

• -a
• --add-import

Examples:

Example .isort.cfg

[settings]
add_imports=import os,import json

Example pyproject.toml

[tool.isort]
add_imports = ["import os", "import json"]

Remove Imports

Removes the specified import from all files.

Type: List of Strings
Default: frozenset()
Config default: []
Python & Config File Name: remove_imports
CLI Flags:

• --rm
• --remove-import

Examples:

Example .isort.cfg

[settings]
remove_imports=os,json

Example pyproject.toml

[tool.isort]
remove_imports = ["os", "json"]

Append Only

Only adds the imports specified in --add-import if the file contains existing imports.

Type: Bool
Default: False
Config default: false
Python & Config File Name: append_only
CLI Flags:

• --append
• --append-only

Reverse Relative

Reverse order of relative imports.

Type: Bool
Default: False
Config default: false
Python & Config File Name: reverse_relative
CLI Flags:

• --rr
• --reverse-relative

Force Single Line

Forces all from imports to appear on their own line

Type: Bool
Default: False
Config default: false
Python & Config File Name: force_single_line
CLI Flags:

• --sl
• --force-single-line-imports

Single Line Exclusions

One or more modules to exclude from the single line rule.

Type: List of Strings
Default: ()
Config default: []
Python & Config File Name: single_line_exclusions
CLI Flags:

• --nsl
• --single-line-exclusions

Examples:

Example .isort.cfg

[settings]
single_line_exclusions=os,json

Example pyproject.toml

[tool.isort]
single_line_exclusions = ["os", "json"]

Default Section

Sets the default section for import options: ('FUTURE', 'STDLIB', 'THIRDPARTY', 'FIRSTPARTY', 'LOCALFOLDER')

Type: String
Default: THIRDPARTY
Config default: THIRDPARTY
Python & Config File Name: default_section
CLI Flags:

• --sd
• --section-default

Import Headings

A mapping of import sections to import heading comments that should show above them.

Type: Dict
Default: {}
Config default: {}
Python & Config File Name: import_headings
CLI Flags: Not Supported

Import Footers

A mapping of import sections to import footer comments that should show below them.

Type: Dict
Default: {}
Config default: {}
Python & Config File Name: import_footers
CLI Flags: Not Supported

Balanced Wrapping

Balances wrapping to produce the most consistent line length possible

Type: Bool
Default: False
Config default: false
Python & Config File Name: balanced_wrapping
CLI Flags:

• -e
• --balanced

Use Parentheses

Use parentheses for line continuation on length limit instead of backslashes. NOTE: This is separate from wrap modes, and only affects how individual lines that are too long get continued, not sections of multiple imports.

Type: Bool
Default: False
Config default: false
Python & Config File Name: use_parentheses
CLI Flags:

• --up
• --use-parentheses

Order By Type

Order imports by type, which is determined by case, in addition to alphabetically.

NOTE: type here refers to the implied type from the import name capitalization. isort does not do type introspection for the imports. These "types" are simply: CONSTANT_VARIABLE, CamelCaseClass, variable_or_function. If your project follows PEP8 or a related coding standard and has many imports this is a good default, otherwise you likely will want to turn it off. From the CLI the --dont-order-by-type option will turn this off.

Type: Bool
Default: True
Config default: true
Python & Config File Name: order_by_type
CLI Flags:

• --ot
• --order-by-type

Atomic

Ensures the output doesn't save if the resulting file contains syntax errors.

Type: Bool
Default: False
Config default: false
Python & Config File Name: atomic
CLI Flags:

• --ac
• --atomic

Lines Before Imports

The number of blank lines to place before imports. -1 for automatic determination

Type: Int
Default: -1
Config default: -1
Python & Config File Name: lines_before_imports
CLI Flags:

• --lbi
• --lines-before-imports

Lines After Imports

The number of blank lines to place after imports. -1 for automatic determination

Type: Int
Default: -1
Config default: -1
Python & Config File Name: lines_after_imports
CLI Flags:

• --lai
• --lines-after-imports

Lines Between Sections

The number of lines to place between sections

Type: Int
Default: 1
Config default: 1
Python & Config File Name: lines_between_sections
CLI Flags: Not Supported

Lines Between Types

The number of lines to place between direct and from imports

Type: Int
Default: 0
Config default: 0
Python & Config File Name: lines_between_types
CLI Flags:

• --lbt
• --lines-between-types

Combine As Imports

Combines as imports on the same line.

Type: Bool
Default: False
Config default: false
Python & Config File Name: combine_as_imports
CLI Flags:

• --ca
• --combine-as

Combine Star

Ensures that if a star import is present, nothing else is imported from that namespace.

Type: Bool
Default: False
Config default: false
Python & Config File Name: combine_star
CLI Flags:

• --cs
• --combine-star

Include Trailing Comma

Includes a trailing comma on multi line imports that include parentheses.

Type: Bool
Default: False
Config default: false
Python & Config File Name: include_trailing_comma
CLI Flags:

• --tc
• --trailing-comma

Split on Trailing Comma

Split imports list followed by a trailing comma into VERTICAL_HANGING_INDENT mode. This follows Black style magic comma.

Type: Bool
Default: False
Config default: false
Python & Config File Name: split_on_trailing_comma CLI Flags:

• --split-on-trailing-comma

From First

Switches the typical ordering preference, showing from imports first then straight ones.

Type: Bool
Default: False
Config default: false
Python & Config File Name: from_first
CLI Flags:

• --ff
• --from-first

Verbose

Shows verbose output, such as when files are skipped or when a check is successful.

Type: Bool
Default: False
Config default: false
Python & Config File Name: verbose
CLI Flags:

• -v
• --verbose

Quiet

Shows extra quiet output, only errors are outputted.

Type: Bool
Default: False
Config default: false
Python & Config File Name: quiet
CLI Flags:

• -q
• --quiet

Force Adds

Forces import adds even if the original file is empty.

Type: Bool
Default: False
Config default: false
Python & Config File Name: force_adds
CLI Flags:

• --af
• --force-adds

Force Alphabetical Sort Within Sections

Force all imports to be sorted alphabetically within a section

Type: Bool
Default: False
Config default: false
Python & Config File Name: force_alphabetical_sort_within_sections
CLI Flags:

• --fass
• --force-alphabetical-sort-within-sections

Force Alphabetical Sort

Force all imports to be sorted as a single section

Type: Bool
Default: False
Config default: false
Python & Config File Name: force_alphabetical_sort
CLI Flags:

• --fas
• --force-alphabetical-sort

Force Grid Wrap

Force number of from imports (defaults to 2 when passed as CLI flag without value) to be grid wrapped regardless of line length. If 0 is passed in (the global default) only line length is considered.

Type: Int
Default: 0
Config default: 0
Python & Config File Name: force_grid_wrap
CLI Flags:

• --fgw
• --force-grid-wrap

Force Sort Within Sections

Don't sort straight-style imports (like import sys) before from-style imports (like from itertools import groupby). Instead, sort the imports by module, independent of import style.

Type: Bool
Default: False
Config default: false
Python & Config File Name: force_sort_within_sections
CLI Flags:

• --fss
• --force-sort-within-sections

Lexicographical

Lexicographical order is strictly alphabetical order. For example by default isort will sort 1, 10, 2 into 1, 2, 10 - but with lexicographical sorting enabled it will remain 1, 10, 2.

Type: Bool
Default: False
Config default: false
Python & Config File Name: lexicographical
CLI Flags: Not Supported

Group By Package

If True isort will automatically create section groups by the top-level package they come from.

Type: Bool
Default: False
Config default: false
Python & Config File Name: group_by_package
CLI Flags: Not Supported

Ignore Whitespace

Tells isort to ignore whitespace differences when --check-only is being used.

Type: Bool
Default: False
Config default: false
Python & Config File Name: ignore_whitespace
CLI Flags:

• --ws
• --ignore-whitespace

No Lines Before

Sections which should not be split with previous by empty lines

Type: List of Strings
Default: frozenset()
Config default: []
Python & Config File Name: no_lines_before
CLI Flags:

• --nlb
• --no-lines-before

Examples:

Example .isort.cfg

[settings]
no_lines_before=future,stdlib

Example pyproject.toml

[tool.isort]
no_lines_before = ["future", "stdlib"]

No Inline Sort

Leaves from imports with multiple imports 'as-is' (e.g. from foo import a, c ,b).

Type: Bool
Default: False
Config default: false
Python & Config File Name: no_inline_sort
CLI Flags:

• --nis
• --no-inline-sort

Ignore Comments

If enabled, isort will strip comments that exist within import lines.

Type: Bool
Default: False
Config default: false
Python & Config File Name: ignore_comments
CLI Flags: Not Supported

Case Sensitive

Tells isort to include casing when sorting module names

Type: Bool
Default: False
Config default: false
Python & Config File Name: case_sensitive
CLI Flags:

• --case-sensitive

Virtual Env

Virtual environment to use for determining whether a package is third-party

Type: String
Default:
Config default:
Python & Config File Name: virtual_env
CLI Flags:

• --virtual-env

Conda Env

Conda environment to use for determining whether a package is third-party

Type: String
Default:
Config default:
Python & Config File Name: conda_env
CLI Flags:

• --conda-env

Ensure Newline Before Comments

Inserts a blank line before a comment following an import.

Type: Bool
Default: False
Config default: false
Python & Config File Name: ensure_newline_before_comments
CLI Flags:

• -n
• --ensure-newline-before-comments

Profile

Base profile type to use for configuration. Profiles include: black, django, pycharm, google, open_stack, plone, attrs, hug, wemake, appnexus. As well as any shared profiles.

Type: String
Default:
Config default:
Python & Config File Name: profile
CLI Flags:

• --profile

Honor Noqa

Tells isort to honor noqa comments to enforce skipping those comments.

Type: Bool
Default: False
Config default: false
Python & Config File Name: honor_noqa
CLI Flags:

• --honor-noqa

Src Paths

Add an explicitly defined source path (modules within src paths have their imports automatically categorized as first_party). Glob expansion (* and **) is supported for this option.

Type: List of Strings
Default: ()
Config default: []
Python & Config File Name: src_paths
CLI Flags:

• --src
• --src-path

Examples:

Example .isort.cfg

[settings]
src_paths = src,tests

Example pyproject.toml

[tool.isort]
src_paths = ["src", "tests"]

Old Finders

Use the old deprecated finder logic that relies on environment introspection magic.

Type: Bool
Default: False
Config default: false
Python & Config File Name: old_finders
CLI Flags:

• --old-finders
• --magic-placement

Remove Redundant Aliases

Tells isort to remove redundant aliases from imports, such as import os as os. This defaults to False simply because some projects use these seemingly useless aliases to signify intent and change behaviour.

Type: Bool
Default: False
Config default: false
Python & Config File Name: remove_redundant_aliases
CLI Flags:

• --remove-redundant-aliases

Float To Top

Causes all non-indented imports to float to the top of the file having its imports sorted (immediately below the top of file comment). This can be an excellent shortcut for collecting imports every once in a while when you place them in the middle of a file to avoid context switching.

NOTE: It currently doesn't work with cimports and introduces some extra over-head and a performance penalty.

Type: Bool
Default: False
Config default: false
Python & Config File Name: float_to_top
CLI Flags:

• --float-to-top

Filter Files

Tells isort to filter files even when they are explicitly passed in as part of the CLI command.

Type: Bool
Default: False
Config default: false
Python & Config File Name: filter_files
CLI Flags:

• --filter-files

Formatter

Specifies the name of a formatting plugin to use when producing output.

Type: String
Default:
Config default:
Python & Config File Name: formatter
CLI Flags:

• --formatter

Formatting Function

The fully qualified Python path of a function to apply to format code sorted by isort.

Type: Nonetype
Default: None
Config default:
Python & Config File Name: formatting_function
CLI Flags: Not Supported

Color Output

Tells isort to use color in terminal output.

Type: Bool
Default: False
Config default: false
Python & Config File Name: color_output
CLI Flags:

• --color

Treat Comments As Code

Tells isort to treat the specified single line comment(s) as if they are code.

Type: List of Strings
Default: frozenset()
Config default: []
Python & Config File Name: treat_comments_as_code
CLI Flags:

• --treat-comment-as-code

Examples:

Example .isort.cfg

[settings]
treat_comments_as_code = # my comment 1, # my other comment

Example pyproject.toml

[tool.isort]
treat_comments_as_code = ["# my comment 1", "# my other comment"]

Treat All Comments As Code

Tells isort to treat all single line comments as if they are code.

Type: Bool
Default: False
Config default: false
Python & Config File Name: treat_all_comments_as_code
CLI Flags:

• --treat-all-comment-as-code

Supported Extensions

Specifies what extensions isort can be run against.

Type: List of Strings
Default: ('pxd', 'py', 'pyi', 'pyx')
Config default: ['pxd', 'py', 'pyi', 'pyx']
Python & Config File Name: supported_extensions
CLI Flags:

• --ext
• --extension
• --supported-extension

Examples:

Example .isort.cfg

[settings]
supported_extensions=pyw,ext

Example pyproject.toml

[tool.isort]
supported_extensions = ["pyw", "ext"]

Blocked Extensions

Specifies what extensions isort can never be run against.

Type: List of Strings
Default: ('pex',)
Config default: ['pex']
Python & Config File Name: blocked_extensions
CLI Flags:

• --blocked-extension

Examples:

Example .isort.cfg

[settings]
blocked_extensions=pyw,pyc

Example pyproject.toml

[tool.isort]
blocked_extensions = ["pyw", "pyc"]

Constants

An override list of tokens to always recognize as a CONSTANT for order_by_type regardless of casing.

Type: List of Strings
Default: frozenset()
Config default: []
Python & Config File Name: constants
CLI Flags: Not Supported

Classes

An override list of tokens to always recognize as a Class for order_by_type regardless of casing.

Type: List of Strings
Default: frozenset()
Config default: []
Python & Config File Name: classes
CLI Flags: Not Supported

Variables

An override list of tokens to always recognize as a var for order_by_type regardless of casing.

Type: List of Strings
Default: frozenset()
Config default: []
Python & Config File Name: variables
CLI Flags: Not Supported

Dedup Headings

Tells isort to only show an identical custom import heading comment once, even if there are multiple sections with the comment set.

Type: Bool
Default: False
Config default: false
Python & Config File Name: dedup_headings
CLI Flags:

• --dedup-headings

Only Sections

Causes imports to be sorted based on their sections like STDLIB, THIRDPARTY, etc. Within sections, the imports are ordered by their import style and the imports with the same style maintain their relative positions.

Type: Bool
Default: False
Config default: false
Python & Config File Name: only_sections
CLI Flags:

• --only-sections
• --os

Only Modified

Suppresses verbose output for non-modified files.

Type: Bool
Default: False
Config default: false
Python & Config File Name: only_modified
CLI Flags:

• --only-modified
• --om

Combine Straight Imports

Combines all the bare straight imports of the same section in a single line. Won't work with sections which have 'as' imports

Type: Bool
Default: False
Config default: false
Python & Config File Name: combine_straight_imports
CLI Flags:

• --combine-straight-imports
• --csi

Auto Identify Namespace Packages

Automatically determine local namespace packages, generally by lack of any src files before a src containing directory.

Type: Bool
Default: True
Config default: true
Python & Config File Name: auto_identify_namespace_packages
CLI Flags: Not Supported

Namespace Packages

Manually specify one or more namespace packages.

Type: List of Strings
Default: frozenset()
Config default: []
Python & Config File Name: namespace_packages
CLI Flags: Not Supported

Follow Links

If True isort will follow symbolic links when doing recursive sorting.

Type: Bool
Default: True
Config default: true
Python & Config File Name: follow_links
CLI Flags: Not Supported

Indented Import Headings

If True isort will apply import headings to indended imports the same way it does unindented ones.

Type: Bool
Default: True
Config default: true
Python & Config File Name: indented_import_headings
CLI Flags: Not Supported

Honor Case In Force Sorted Sections

Honor --case-sensitive when --force-sort-within-sections is being used. Without this option set, --order-by-type decides module name ordering too.

Type: Bool
Default: False
Config default: false
Python & Config File Name: honor_case_in_force_sorted_sections
CLI Flags:

• --hcss
• --honor-case-in-force-sorted-sections

Sort Relative In Force Sorted Sections

When using --force-sort-within-sections, sort relative imports the same way as they are sorted when not using that setting.

Type: Bool
Default: False
Config default: false
Python & Config File Name: sort_relative_in_force_sorted_sections
CLI Flags:

• --srss
• --sort-relative-in-force-sorted-sections

Overwrite In Place

Tells isort to overwrite in place using the same file handle. Comes at a performance and memory usage penalty over its standard approach but ensures all file flags and modes stay unchanged.

Type: Bool
Default: False
Config default: false
Python & Config File Name: overwrite_in_place
CLI Flags:

• --overwrite-in-place

Reverse Sort

Reverses the ordering of imports.

Type: Bool
Default: False
Config default: false
Python & Config File Name: reverse_sort
CLI Flags:

• --reverse-sort

Star First

Forces star imports above others to avoid overriding directly imported variables.

Type: Bool
Default: False
Config default: false
Python & Config File Name: star_first
CLI Flags:

• --star-first

Git Ignore

If True isort will honor ignores within locally defined .git_ignore files.

Type: Dict
Default: {}
Config default: {}
Python & Config File Name: git_ignore
CLI Flags: Not Supported

Format Error

Override the format used to print errors.

Type: String
Default: {error}: {message}
Config default: {error}: {message}
Python & Config File Name: format_error
CLI Flags:

• --format-error

Format Success

Override the format used to print success.

Type: String
Default: {success}: {message}
Config default: {success}: {message}
Python & Config File Name: format_success
CLI Flags:

• --format-success

Sort Order

Specify sorting function. Can be built in (natural[default] = force numbers to be sequential, native = Python's built-in sorted function) or an installable plugin.

Type: String
Default: natural
Config default: natural
Python & Config File Name: sort_order
CLI Flags:

• --sort-order

Show Version

Displays the currently installed version of isort.

Type: Bool
Default: False
Config default: false
Python & Config File Name: Not Supported
CLI Flags:

• -V
• --version

Examples:

Example cli usage

isort --version

Version Number

Returns just the current version number without the logo

Type: String
Default: ==SUPPRESS==
Config default: ==SUPPRESS==
Python & Config File Name: Not Supported
CLI Flags:

• --vn
• --version-number

Write To Stdout

Force resulting output to stdout, instead of in-place.

Type: Bool
Default: False
Config default: false
Python & Config File Name: Not Supported
CLI Flags:

• -d
• --stdout

Show Config

See isort's determined config, as well as sources of config options.

Type: Bool
Default: False
Config default: false
Python & Config File Name: Not Supported
CLI Flags:

• --show-config

Show Files

See the files isort will be run against with the current config options.

Type: Bool
Default: False
Config default: false
Python & Config File Name: Not Supported
CLI Flags:

• --show-files

Show Diff

Prints a diff of all the changes isort would make to a file, instead of changing it in place

Type: Bool
Default: False
Config default: false
Python & Config File Name: Not Supported
CLI Flags:

• --df
• --diff

Check

Checks the file for unsorted / unformatted imports and prints them to the command line without modifying the file. Returns 0 when nothing would change and returns 1 when the file would be reformatted.

Type: Bool
Default: False
Config default: false
Python & Config File Name: Not Supported
CLI Flags:

• -c
• --check-only
• --check

Settings Path

Explicitly set the settings path or file instead of auto determining based on file location.

Type: String
Default: None
Config default:
Python & Config File Name: Not Supported
CLI Flags:

• --sp
• --settings-path
• --settings-file
• --settings

Config Root

Explicitly set the config root for resolving all configs. When used with the --resolve-all-configs flag, isort will look at all sub-folders in this config root to resolve config files and sort files based on the closest available config(if any)

Type: String
Default: None
Config default:
Python & Config File Name: Not Supported
CLI Flags:

• --cr
• --config-root

Resolve All Configs

Tells isort to resolve the configs for all sub-directories and sort files in terms of its closest config files.

Type: Bool
Default: False
Config default: false
Python & Config File Name: Not Supported
CLI Flags:

• --resolve-all-configs

Jobs

Number of files to process in parallel. Negative value means use number of CPUs.

Type: Int
Default: None
Config default:
Python & Config File Name: Not Supported
CLI Flags:

• -j
• --jobs

Ask To Apply

Tells isort to apply changes interactively.

Type: Bool
Default: False
Config default: false
Python & Config File Name: Not Supported
CLI Flags:

• --interactive

Files

One or more Python source files that need their imports sorted.

Type: String
Default: None
Config default:
Python & Config File Name: Not Supported
CLI Flags:

Dont Follow Links

Tells isort not to follow symlinks that are encountered when running recursively.

Type: Bool
Default: False
Config default: false
Python & Config File Name: Not Supported
CLI Flags:

• --dont-follow-links

Filename

Provide the filename associated with a stream.

Type: String
Default: None
Config default:
Python & Config File Name: Not Supported
CLI Flags:

• --filename

Allow Root

Tells isort not to treat / specially, allowing it to be run against the root dir.

Type: Bool
Default: False
Config default: false
Python & Config File Name: Not Supported
CLI Flags:

• --allow-root

Dont Float To Top

Forces --float-to-top setting off. See --float-to-top for more information.

Type: Bool
Default: False
Config default: false
Python & Config File Name: Not Supported
CLI Flags:

• --dont-float-to-top

Dont Order By Type

Don't order imports by type, which is determined by case, in addition to alphabetically.

NOTE: type here refers to the implied type from the import name capitalization. isort does not do type introspection for the imports. These "types" are simply: CONSTANT_VARIABLE, CamelCaseClass, variable_or_function. If your project follows PEP8 or a related coding standard and has many imports this is a good default. You can turn this on from the CLI using --order-by-type.

Type: Bool
Default: False
Config default: false
Python & Config File Name: Not Supported
CLI Flags:

• --dt
• --dont-order-by-type

Ext Format

Tells isort to format the given files according to an extensions formatting rules.

Type: String
Default: None
Config default:
Python & Config File Name: Not Supported
CLI Flags:

• --ext-format

Deprecated Flags

==SUPPRESS==

Type: String
Default: None
Config default:
Python & Config File Name: Not Supported
CLI Flags:

• -k
• --keep-direct-and-as