Python 3 8 runtime throws ImportModuleError when using urllib3

python 3.8+ `importmoduleerror` with `urllib3`: a deep dive and troubleshooting guide

the `importmoduleerror` in python 3.8 and later versions, specifically when working with the `urllib3` library, often stems from conflicts between multiple versions of `urllib3` or its dependencies, or issues with your python environment's setup. this tutorial will guide you through understanding the error, diagnosing its root cause, and providing effective solutions.

**understanding the `importmoduleerror`**

the `importmoduleerror` is raised when python cannot find the specified module during import. in the context of `urllib3`, it implies that python can't locate the `urllib3` package or one of its dependencies in its search path. this is typically caused by:

1. **missing `urllib3` installation:** the most straightforward cause is simply that `urllib3` isn't installed in your python environment.

2. **conflicting `urllib3` versions:** you might have multiple python environments (e.g., virtual environments, conda environments) with different versions of `urllib3` installed. your current environment might not be using the intended version. or, you may have a globally installed version that clashes with a project-specific version.

3. **dependency issues:** `urllib3` relies on other packages (often `chardet` and `idna`). if these dependencies are missing, corrupted, or incompatible with your `urllib3` version, the import will fail.

4. **incorrect pythonpath:** the `pythonpath` environment variable dictates where python searches for modules. if `urllib3` is installed in a location not included in `pythonpath`, it won't be found.

5. **virtual environment problems:** if you're using virtual environments (recommended!), issues within the virtual environment's structure can lead to import failures. this can include corrupted environment files or incorrect activation.

6. **system package conflicts:** rarely, conflicts with system-level python packages can interfere with y ...

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