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Python OS File/Directory Methods
The os Python module provides a big range of useful methods to manipulate files and directories. Most of the useful methods are listed here −
| Sr.No. | Methods with Description |
|---|---|
| 1 | os.access(path, mode)
Use the real uid/gid to test for access to path. |
| 2 | os.chdir(path)
Change the current working directory to path |
| 3 | os.chflags(path, flags)
Set the flags of path to the numeric flags. |
| 4 | os.chmod(path, mode)
Change the mode of path to the numeric mode. |
| 5 | os.chown(path, uid, gid)
Change the owner and group id of path to the numeric uid and gid. |
| 6 | os.chroot(path)
Change the root directory of the current process to path. |
| 7 | os.close(fd)
Close file descriptor fd. |
| 8 | os.closerange(fd_low, fd_high)
Close all file descriptors from fd_low (inclusive) to fd_high (exclusive), ignoring errors. |
| 9 | os.dup(fd)
Return a duplicate of file descriptor fd. |
| 10 | os.dup2(fd, fd2)
Duplicate file descriptor fd to fd2, closing the latter first if necessary. |
| 11 | os.fchdir(fd)
Change the current working directory to the directory represented by the file descriptor fd. |
| 12 | os.fchmod(fd, mode)
Change the mode of the file given by fd to the numeric mode. |
| 13 | os.fchown(fd, uid, gid)
Change the owner and group id of the file given by fd to the numeric uid and gid. |
| 14 | os.fdatasync(fd)
Force write of file with filedescriptor fd to disk. |
| 15 | os.fdopen(fd[, mode[, bufsize]])
Return an open file object connected to the file descriptor fd. |
| 16 | os.fpathconf(fd, name)
Return system configuration information relevant to an open file. name specifies the configuration value to retrieve. |
| 17 | os.fstat(fd)
Return status for file descriptor fd, like stat(). |
| 18 | os.fstatvfs(fd)
Return information about the filesystem containing the file associated with file descriptor fd, like statvfs(). |
| 19 | os.fsync(fd)
Force write of file with filedescriptor fd to disk. |
| 20 | os.ftruncate(fd, length)
Truncate the file corresponding to file descriptor fd, so that it is at most length bytes in size. |
| 21 | os.getcwd()
Return a string representing the current working directory. |
| 22 | os.getcwdu()
Return a Unicode object representing the current working directory. |
| 23 | os.isatty(fd)
Return True if the file descriptor fd is open and connected to a tty(-like) device, else False. |
| 24 | os.lchflags(path, flags)
Set the flags of path to the numeric flags, like chflags(), but do not follow symbolic links. |
| 25 | os.lchmod(path, mode)
Change the mode of path to the numeric mode. |
| 26 | os.lchown(path, uid, gid)
Change the owner and group id of path to the numeric uid and gid. This function will not follow symbolic links. |
| 27 | os.link(src, dst)
Create a hard link pointing to src named dst. |
| 28 | os.listdir(path)
Return a list containing the names of the entries in the directory given by path. |
| 29 | os.lseek(fd, pos, how)
Set the current position of file descriptor fd to position pos, modified by how. |
| 30 | os.lstat(path)
Like stat(), but do not follow symbolic links. |
| 31 | os.major(device)
Extract the device major number from a raw device number. |
| 32 | os.makedev(major, minor)
Compose a raw device number from the major and minor device numbers. |
| 33 | os.makedirs(path[, mode])
Recursive directory creation function. |
| 34 | os.minor(device)
Extract the device minor number from a raw device number. |
| 35 | os.mkdir(path[, mode])
Create a directory named path with numeric mode mode. |
| 36 | os.mkfifo(path[, mode])
Create a FIFO (a named pipe) named path with numeric mode mode. The default mode is 0666 (octal). |
| 37 | os.mknod(filename[, mode=0600, device])
Create a filesystem node (file, device special file or named pipe) named filename. |
| 38 | os.open(file, flags[, mode])
Open the file file and set various flags according to flags and possibly its mode according to mode. |
| 39 | os.openpty()
Open a new pseudo-terminal pair. Return a pair of file descriptors (master, slave) for the pty and the tty, respectively. |
| 40 | os.pathconf(path, name)
Return system configuration information relevant to a named file. |
| 41 | os.pipe()
Create a pipe. Return a pair of file descriptors (r, w) usable for reading and writing, respectively. |
| 42 | os.popen(command[, mode[, bufsize]])
Open a pipe to or from command. |
| 43 | os.read(fd, n)
Read at most n bytes from file descriptor fd. Return a string containing the bytes read. If the end of the file referred to by fd has been reached, an empty string is returned. |
| 44 | os.readlink(path)
Return a string representing the path to which the symbolic link points. |
| 45 | os.remove(path)
Remove the file path. |
| 46 | os.removedirs(path)
Remove directories recursively. |
| 47 | os.rename(src, dst)
Rename the file or directory src to dst. |
| 48 | os.renames(old, new)
Recursive directory or file renaming function. |
| 49 | os.rmdir(path)
Remove the directory path |
| 50 | os.stat(path)
Perform a stat system call on the given path. |
| 51 | os.stat_float_times([newvalue])
Determine whether stat_result represents time stamps as float objects. |
| 52 | os.statvfs(path)
Perform a statvfs system call on the given path. |
| 53 | os.symlink(src, dst)
Create a symbolic link pointing to src named dst. |
| 54 | os.tcgetpgrp(fd)
Return the process group associated with the terminal given by fd (an open file descriptor as returned by open()). |
| 55 | os.tcsetpgrp(fd, pg)
Set the process group associated with the terminal given by fd (an open file descriptor as returned by open()) to pg. |
| 56 | os.tempnam([dir[, prefix]])
Return a unique path name that is reasonable for creating a temporary file. |
| 57 | os.tmpfile()
Return a new file object opened in update mode (w+b). |
| 58 | os.tmpnam()
Return a unique path name that is reasonable for creating a temporary file. |
| 59 | os.ttyname(fd)
Return a string which specifies the terminal device associated with file descriptor fd. If fd is not associated with a terminal device, an exception is raised. |
| 60 | os.unlink(path)
Remove the file path. |
| 61 | os.utime(path, times)
Set the access and modified times of the file specified by path. |
| 62 | os.walk(top[, topdown=True[, onerror=None[, followlinks=False]]])
Generate the file names in a directory tree by walking the tree either top-down or bottom-up. |
| 63 | os.write(fd, str)
Write the string str to file descriptor fd. Return the number of bytes actually written. |