Deleting Files and Folders in Python

Managing files and folders is an essential part of programming in Python. In this post, we will explore how to delete files and folders using the built-in os module.

Deleting a File

To delete a file, you need to import the os module and use the os.remove() function.

Example: Remove a File

To remove a file named sample_file.txt, use the following code:

import os
os.remove("sample_file.txt")

Checking if a File Exists

To avoid errors, it's good practice to check if the file exists before attempting to delete it.

Example: Check and Delete a File

Here’s how you can check if a file exists before deleting it:

import os
if os.path.exists("sample_file.txt"):
os.remove("sample_file.txt")
else:
print("The file does not exist")

Deleting a Folder

To delete an entire folder, you can use the os.rmdir() method. Note that you can only remove empty folders.

Example: Remove a Folder

To remove a folder named my_folder, use the following code:

import os
os.rmdir("my_folder")

Exercise

To remove a file, which function should you use from the os module?

• os.delete()
• os.drop()
• os.remove()

Conclusion

Deleting files and folders in Python is straightforward with the os module. Always check if the file exists before attempting to delete it to avoid errors. Remember that you can only delete empty folders with os.rmdir(). This knowledge is essential for effective file management in your Python projects.