Python - Directories

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All files are contained within various directories, and Python has no problem handling these too. The os module has several methods that help you create, remove, and change directories.

The mkdir() Method

You can use the mkdir() method of the os module to create directories in the current directory. You need to supply an argument to this method, which contains the name of the directory to be created.

Syntax

os.mkdir("newdir")

Example

Following is an example to create a directory test in the current directory −

#!/usr/bin/python3
import os

# Create a directory "test"
os.mkdir("test")

The chdir() Method

You can use the chdir() method to change the current directory. The chdir() method takes an argument, which is the name of the directory that you want to make the current directory.

Syntax

os.chdir("newdir")

Example

Following is an example to go into "/home/newdir" directory −

import os

# Changing a directory to "/home/newdir"
os.chdir("/home/newdir")

The getcwd() Method

The getcwd() method displays the current working directory.

Syntax

os.getcwd()

Example

Following is an example to give current directory −

#!/usr/bin/python3
import os

# This would give location of the current directory
os.getcwd()

The rmdir() Method

The rmdir() method deletes the directory, which is passed as an argument in the method.

Before removing a directory, all the contents in it should be removed.

Syntax

os.rmdir('dirname')

Example

Following is an example to remove the "/tmp/test" directory. It is required to give fully qualified name of the directory, otherwise it would search for that directory in the current directory.

#!/usr/bin/python3
import os

# This would remove "/tmp/test" directory.
os.rmdir( "/tmp/test" )