In Python: what is a "qualified name" or "unqualified name"?

I've seen it mentioned a couple of times, but no explanation as to what it is.

It is the path from top-level module down to the object itself.

See PEP 3155, Qualified name for classes and functions.

If you have a nested package named foo.bar.baz with a class Spam, the method ham on that class will have a fully qualified name of foo.bar.baz.Spam.ham. ham is the unqualified name.

A qualified name lets you re-import the exact same object, provided it is not an object that is private to a local (function) namespace.