ImportError: cannot import name 'Document' from partially initialized module 'readability'

A file named readability.py in your working directory is shadowing the library, and Python is importing your half-initialized file instead of the package. Rename your file (and delete __pycache__), and from readability import Document works.

The error

ImportError: cannot import name 'Document' from partially initialized module 'readability'

Fix it

1. Confirm the shadowing

python -c "import readability; print(readability.__file__)"

Expected: a project path ending in readability.py means your file is the problem.

1. Rename your file

Rename readability.py to something like extract_article.py, clear __pycache__, then:

python -c "from readability import Document; print('ok')"

Expected: prints ok.

When this applies

• the message contains partially initialized module 'readability'
• your script sits next to a file called readability.py

When it does NOT apply

• without partially initialized, it is the wrong-PyPI-package variant
• No module named 'readability' is the missing install

Compatibility

All readability-lxml versions. The partially initialized phrasing is Python 3's circular-import diagnostic.

Why it happens

When your script is readability.py and it runs from readability import Document, Python starts initializing YOUR file as the readability module, then the from-import asks that same half-initialized module for Document, which does not exist yet. Python detects the cycle and reports partially initialized module. The script's directory beating site-packages is what starts the cycle.

Edge cases

• The traceback often shows your own filename twice. That doubling is the signature of this trap.