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Import   

Import[source]

imports data from source, returning a Wolfram Language representation of it.

Import[source,"fmt"]

takes the file to be in the specified format "fmt".

Import[source,elements]

imports the specified elements from a file.

Import[source,…,options]

uses the specified options.

Details
Details and Options Details and Options
Examples  
Basic Examples  
Scope  
Generalizations & Extensions  
Options  
"Password"  
"Username"  
See Also
Tech Notes
Related Guides
Related Workflows
Related Links
History
Cite this Page

Import   

Listing of Formats »

Import[source]

imports data from source, returning a Wolfram Language representation of it.

Import[source,"fmt"]

takes the file to be in the specified format "fmt".

Import[source,elements]

imports the specified elements from a file.

Import[source,…,options]

uses the specified options.

Details

  • Import handles a large number of formats, each typically with many different possible elements. The possible formats are given in the list $ImportFormats, and in the guide "Listing of All Formats".
  • The format of a file is by default deduced from the file extension in its name, or by FileFormat from its contents.
  • In Import[source,…], source can be any of the following:
  • File["file"] or "file"file name, searched for on $Path
    URL["url"] or "url"HTTP, HTTPS or FTP URL
    "!prog"import data from a pipe
    CloudObject[…]a cloud object
    LocalObject[…]a local object
    DataConnectionObject[…]a connection object
  • Import elements determine which aspects of a file should be imported, and how they should be returned to the Wolfram Language.
  • The following elements specifications can be given:
  • elema single element
    {{elem1,elem2,…}}multiple elements
    {elem1,sublelem1,subelem2,…}subelements of subelements of elem1
  • When specifying the format, the following elements specifications can be given:
  • {"format",elem}a single element
    {"format",{elem1,elem2,…}}multiple elements
    {"format",elem1,sublelem1,subelem2,…}subelements of subelements of elem1
  • Elements supported by all formats are:
  • "Elements"a list of names of elements
    "Rules"rules for the values of all elements
    "Options"rules for options, settings, metainformation, etc.
  • If no element specification is given, every format defaults to the most suitable element. For instance, JPEG files are imported as Image objects by default.
  • Use Import[source,…,options] to provide format-specific options that control the behavior of Import.
  • By default, local files are searched for on $Path. Use the option Path->path to specify other directories.
  • When importing a remote file, Import uses proxy and related settings specified in Preferences settings in the notebook front end or in your operating system environment.
  • Import generates a dialog if interactive authentication is required.
  • Import[url] accepts the following URLDownload options:
  • AuthenticationNoneauthentication information to send
    CookieFunctionAutomaticfunction to apply to each cookie received
    ConnectionSettingsAutomaticspeed and other settings for the connection
    FollowRedirectsTruewhether to follow HTTP redirects
    InteractiveTruewhether to allow interactive authentication dialogs
    TimeConstraintInfinitytime to wait for a response
    VerifySecurityCertificatesTruewhether to verify SSL security certificates
  • New formats can be manually registered in the Wolfram Language. See "Developing an Import Converter".

Examples

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Basic Examples  (3)

Import a "GIF" file:

Find what elements are available to import:

Import a specific element of the file:

Scope  (4)

Import the complete array of data:

Extract information for one part of the array:

Extract multiple elements:

Import from a URL:

Import from a DataConnectionObject:

Generalizations & Extensions  (2)

Local objects can be used with Export and Import to store data persistently:

Cloud objects can be used with Export and Import to store data persistently:

Options  (2)

"Password"  (1)

Specify the password that should be sent to the server:

"Username"  (1)

Specify the username that should be sent to the server:

Wolfram Research (1999), Import, Wolfram Language function, https://reference.wolfram.com/language/ref/Import.html (updated 2025).

Text

Wolfram Research (1999), Import, Wolfram Language function, https://reference.wolfram.com/language/ref/Import.html (updated 2025).

CMS

Wolfram Language. 1999. "Import." Wolfram Language & System Documentation Center. Wolfram Research. Last Modified 2025. https://reference.wolfram.com/language/ref/Import.html.

APA

Wolfram Language. (1999). Import. Wolfram Language & System Documentation Center. Retrieved from https://reference.wolfram.com/language/ref/Import.html

BibTeX

@misc{reference.wolfram_2025_import, author="Wolfram Research", title="{Import}", year="2025", howpublished="\url{https://reference.wolfram.com/language/ref/Import.html}", note=[Accessed: 01-December-2025]}

BibLaTeX

@online{reference.wolfram_2025_import, organization={Wolfram Research}, title={Import}, year={2025}, url={https://reference.wolfram.com/language/ref/Import.html}, note=[Accessed: 01-December-2025]}