Python Pathlib Module
The pathlib module offers classes representing filesystem paths with semantics appropriate for different operating systems. It provides an object-oriented interface to filesystem paths, replacing older modules like os.path.
Importing the Module
from pathlib import PathCreating Paths
You can create a path object by passing a string to the Path constructor.
from pathlib import Path
# Current directory
p = Path('.')
# Specific path
p = Path('/usr/bin/python3')
# Windows path
win_p = Path('C:/Windows/System32')Basic Operations
Joining Paths
Use the / operator to join path components.
p = Path('/home/user')
sub_p = p / 'documents' / 'file.txt'
print(sub_p)
# Output (Linux): /home/user/documents/file.txt
# Output (Windows): \home\user\documents\file.txtChecking Existence
p = Path('example.txt')
if p.exists():
print("Path exists")
if p.is_file():
print("It is a file")
if p.is_dir():
print("It is a directory")Path Manipulation
You can easily access parts of the path.
p = Path('/home/user/archive.tar.gz')
print(p.name) # archive.tar.gz
print(p.stem) # archive.tar
print(p.suffix) # .gz
print(p.parent) # /home/userReading and Writing Files
pathlib provides convenience methods for reading and writing text or bytes.
p = Path('hello.txt')
# Write text
p.write_text('Hello World!')
# Read text
content = p.read_text()
print(content)Iterating Directories
You can iterate over directory contents using iterdir().
p = Path('.')
for child in p.iterdir():
print(child)Globbing
Find files matching a pattern.
# Find all .py files
for py_file in p.glob('*.py'):
print(py_file)
# Recursive glob
for py_file in p.rglob('*.py'):
print(py_file)Resolving Paths
To get the absolute path, use resolve().
p = Path('hello.txt')
print(p.resolve())