In Python, an alias is an alternate name given to an existing function or module. Aliases in Python are often used to shorten the length of a call to long or frequently-used module or function names.
To create an alias in Python, you can use the as keyword.
Here's an example where aliasing is used to shorten the name of the datetime module:
import datetime as dt
today = dt.date.today()
print(today)
In this example, we've imported the datetime module and given it the alias dt. This allows us to use dt instead of datetime whenever we reference the module.
Similarly, you can also use aliasing to shorten the name of variables as shown in the next example:
import numpy as np
a = np.array([1, 2, 3])
print(a)
In this example, we've imported the numpy module and given it the alias np. Later on, we've created a NumPy array and given it the alias a. This allows us to use np instead of numpy whenever we reference the module and a instead of the variable name.
Overall, aliasing in Python allows us to write more concise code and reduce repetitive typing.