How to Run Another Python script with Arguments in Python

Running a Python script from another script and passing arguments allows you to modularize code and enhance reusability. This process involves using a subprocess or os module to execute the external script, and passing arguments can be achieved by appending them to the command line. In this article, we will explore different approaches to Running a Python Script From Another Script and Pass Arguments.

Run Python Script from Another Script and Pass Arguments

Below are the approaches to run a Python script from another Script and Pass Arguments

1. Using the subprocess module
2. Using exec
3. Using the importlib module

Run Python Script From Another Script Using subprocess module

In this example, the subprocess.run function is used to execute the called_script.py script from caller_script.py. The arguments (arg1, arg2, arg3) are passed as command-line arguments when calling the script. The called script then retrieves these arguments using sys.argv and prints them.

caller_script.py

Python3

import subprocess

# Arguments to be passed to the called script
arg1 = "Geeks"
arg2 = "for"
arg3 = "Geeks"

# Run the called script with arguments
subprocess.run(['python', 'called_script.py', arg1, arg2, arg3])

called_script.py

Python3

import sys

# Retrieve arguments passed from the calling script
arg1 = sys.argv[1]
arg2 = sys.argv[2]
arg3 = sys.argv[3]

# Display the received arguments
print(f"Arguments received: {arg1}, {arg2}, {arg3}")

Run the Caller Script:

python caller_script.py

Output:

Arguments received: Geeks, for, Geeks

Run Python Script From Another Script Using exec

In this example, we use the exec function in Python that executes dynamically created Python code or scripts. We can use this method to execute a Python script within another script and pass arguments to it.

caller_script.py

Python3

# Define arguments
arg1 = "Geeks"
arg2 = "for"
arg3 = "Geeks"

# Execute called script with the arguments
exec(open("called_script.py").read(), {
     'arg1': arg1, 'arg2': arg2, 'arg3': arg3})

called_script.py

Python3

# Retrieve arguments
arg1 = globals().get('arg1', None)
arg2 = globals().get('arg2', None)
arg3 = globals().get('arg3', None)

# Print arguments
print(f"Arguments received: {arg1}, {arg2}, {arg3}")

Run the Caller Script

python caller_script.py

Output:

Arguments received: Geeks, for, Geeks

Run Python Script From Another Script Using importlib module

In this example, we use the importlib module for the dynamically importing modules. While it’s typically used for importing modules, we can also use it to execute Python scripts. By importing the script as a module we can call its functions and pass arguments to them.

caller_script.py

Python3

import importlib.util
# Define arguments
arg1 = "Geeks"
arg2 = "for"
arg3 = "Geeks"
# Import called script as module
spec = importlib.util.spec_from_file_location(
    "called_script", "called_script.py")
called_script = importlib.util.module_from_spec(spec)
spec.loader.exec_module(called_script)
# Call function with the arguments
called_script.main(arg1, arg2, arg3)

called_script.py

Python3

def main(arg1, arg2, arg3):
    # Print arguments
    print(f"Arguments received: {arg1}, {arg2}, {arg3}")


if __name__ == "__main__":
    import sys
    # Retrieve arguments
    arg1 = sys.argv[1]
    arg2 = sys.argv[2]
    arg3 = sys.argv[3]
    # Call main function
    main(arg1, arg2, arg3)

Run the Caller Script:

python caller_script.py

Output:

Arguments received: Geeks, for, Geeks