ImportError: No module named sklearn.cross_validation

Category: Programming, Python | August 10, 2023

The import error No module named error is a common error that coders can face while importing packages from different libraries. One such error is the No module named sklearn.cross_validation which occurs due to deprecated versions of sklearn as shown in the following image.



Scikit-Learn, often referred to as sklearn, is a widely-used machine learning library in Python that provides a wide variety of tools for various machine-learning tasks. In this article, you will explore the root causes of this error and provide solutions to help you overcome it. Let’s get started.

Understanding the Error

The error message “No module named ‘sklearn.cross_validation'” suggests that the Python interpreter cannot find a module named 'sklearn.cross_validation'. This module was used in older versions of scikit-learn for cross-validation techniques. However, it has been deprecated and its functionality has been moved to another location in newer versions of scikit-learn.

Causes of the Error

The following are the major reasons why the coders face this error:

  • Outdated Code: If you’re using code that was written for an older version of scikit-learn, it might still be importing the deprecated sklearn.cross_validation module.
  • Incorrect Import: Even if you’re using a modern version of scikit-learn, you might still encounter the error if you’re importing the module incorrectly.

Solutions

Let’s explore how you can resolve the “No module named ‘sklearn.cross_validation'” error:

Solution 1: Check scikit-learn Version

First, ensure that you’re using a recent version of scikit-learn. The sklearn.cross_validation module was deprecated and its functionality moved to the sklearn.model_selection module in scikit-learn 0.18 and later versions. You can update scikit-learn using the following command:

pip install --upgrade scikit-learn 

Solution 2: Update Code

If you’re using code written for older versions of scikit-learn, update the import statements to use the new sklearn.model_selection module instead of sklearn.cross_validation. For example, if your code is like this,

from sklearn.cross_validation import train_test_split

Update it to:

from sklearn.model_selection import train_test_split

Similarly, adjust any other parts of your code that use the deprecated module.

Solution 3: Update Function Calls

Update the function calls in your code to use the new functions from the sklearn.model_selection module. Pay attention to any changes in function names, parameters, or behavior by checking on official documentation. Make sure to adjust the code accordingly, if the function names have been changed.

Solution 4: Verify Installation

After updating your code and scikit-learn version, verify that the error is resolved by running your script again as shown in the following image. If the error persists, double-check your import statements and any potential typos.

Conclusion

The above error No module named sklearn.cross_validation occurs due to using the deprecated versions of libraries. By updating your code to use the correct import statements and making sure you’re using an up-to-date version of scikit-learn, you can overcome this error and leverage the powerful machine-learning capabilities of scikit-learn without any hindrance. Remember to always stay updated with library changes to write robust and maintainable machine learning code. Click on the give to check official documentations with the latest releases.