gh-61585: Clarify import scope in modules tutorial (GH-93455)

slateny · AA-Turner · CAM-Gerlach · web-flow · commit 4b854b746650 · 2022-06-28T12:15:44.000+02:00
Co-authored-by: Adam Turner &lt;9087854+AA-Turner@users.noreply.github.com&gt;
Co-authored-by: CAM Gerlach &lt;CAM.Gerlach@Gerlach.CAM&gt;
diff --git a/Doc/tutorial/modules.rst b/Doc/tutorial/modules.rst
@@ -47,8 +47,9 @@ command::
 
    >>> import fibo
 
-This does not enter the names of the functions defined in ``fibo``  directly in
-the current symbol table; it only enters the module name ``fibo`` there. Using
+This does not add the names of the functions defined in ``fibo``  directly to
+the current :term:`namespace` (see :ref:`tut-scopes` for more details);
+it only adds the module name ``fibo`` there. Using
 the module name you can access the functions::
 
    >>> fibo.fib(1000)
@@ -75,27 +76,27 @@ These statements are intended to initialize the module. They are executed only
 the *first* time the module name is encountered in an import statement. [#]_
 (They are also run if the file is executed as a script.)
 
-Each module has its own private symbol table, which is used as the global symbol
-table by all functions defined in the module. Thus, the author of a module can
+Each module has its own private namespace, which is used as the global namespace
+by all functions defined in the module. Thus, the author of a module can
 use global variables in the module without worrying about accidental clashes
 with a user's global variables. On the other hand, if you know what you are
 doing you can touch a module's global variables with the same notation used to
 refer to its functions, ``modname.itemname``.
 
 Modules can import other modules.  It is customary but not required to place all
 :keyword:`import` statements at the beginning of a module (or script, for that
-matter).  The imported module names are placed in the importing module's global
-symbol table.
+matter).  The imported module names, if placed at the top level of a module
+(outside any functions or classes), are added to the module's global namespace.
 
 There is a variant of the :keyword:`import` statement that imports names from a
-module directly into the importing module's symbol table.  For example::
+module directly into the importing module's namespace.  For example::
 
    >>> from fibo import fib, fib2
    >>> fib(500)
    0 1 1 2 3 5 8 13 21 34 55 89 144 233 377
 
 This does not introduce the module name from which the imports are taken in the
-local symbol table (so in the example, ``fibo`` is not defined).
+local namespace (so in the example, ``fibo`` is not defined).
 
 There is even a variant to import all names that a module defines::
 
@@ -580,5 +581,5 @@ modules found in a package.
 .. rubric:: Footnotes
 
 .. [#] In fact function definitions are also 'statements' that are 'executed'; the
-   execution of a module-level function definition enters the function name in
-   the module's global symbol table.
+   execution of a module-level function definition adds the function name to
+   the module's global namespace.
