python - Import error, No module named xxxx -

i have project having structure

/example ../prediction ....__init__.py ....a.py 

pythonpath pointed /example

now open python in terminal , type

import prediction 

it succeeded, if type

import prediction.a 

it returns error

importerror: no module named 'prediction.a'; 'prediction' not package 

why that? isn't imported package

the behavior seeing can caused if there module (foo.py) or package (foo/__init__.py) in current directory has conflicting name.

in case, suspect there file named prediction.py, , you're getting instead of prediction package in examples directory.