:func:`compile`, load the module. Return a new reference to the module object,
or *NULL* with an exception set if an error occurred. Before Python 2.4, the
module could still be created in error cases. Starting with Python 2.4, *name*
- is removed from ``sys.modules`` in error cases, and even if *name* was already
- in ``sys.modules`` on entry to :cfunc:`PyImport_ExecCodeModule`. Leaving
- incompletely initialized modules in ``sys.modules`` is dangerous, as imports of
+ is removed from :attr:`sys.modules` in error cases, and even if *name* was already
+ in :attr:`sys.modules` on entry to :cfunc:`PyImport_ExecCodeModule`. Leaving
+ incompletely initialized modules in :attr:`sys.modules` is dangerous, as imports of
such modules have no way to know that the module object is an unknown (and
probably damaged with respect to the module author's intents) state.
structures not already created will still not be created.
.. versionchanged:: 2.4
- *name* is removed from ``sys.modules`` in error cases.
+ *name* is removed from :attr:`sys.modules` in error cases.
.. cfunction:: long PyImport_GetMagicNumber()