Delete a file in Python

This post will discuss how to delete a file in Python.

1. Using `os.remove()` function

The standard solution to delete a file in Python is using the os.remove() function. It accepts a path that should be a file; otherwise, an exception is raised.

import os

path = '/path/to/file/filename.ext'

os.remove(path)

To handle the case when the specified path is a directory, you should either:

1. Check for the existence of the file before deleting it:

import os

path = '/path/to/file/filename.ext'

if os.path.isfile(path):

os.remove(path)

else:

print('Path is not a file')

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2. Catch exception with try-except:

import os

path = '/path/to/file/filename.ext'

try:

os.remove(path)

except:

print('Path is not a file')

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2. Using `os.unlink()` function

Alternatively, you can use the os.unlink() function to delete a file which is semantically identical to os.remove() function.

import os

path = '/path/to/file/filename.ext'

if os.path.isfile(path):

os.unlink(path)

else:

print('Path is not a file')

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3. Using `pathlib.Path.unlink()` function

Starting with Python 3.4, consider using the Path.unlink() function from the pathlib module to remove a file or symbolic link.

import pathlib

path = pathlib.Path('/path/to/file/filename.ext')

path.unlink()

That’s all about deleting a file in Python.

1. Using os.remove() function

2. Using os.unlink() function

3. Using pathlib.Path.unlink() function

Share this:

1. Using `os.remove()` function

2. Using `os.unlink()` function

3. Using `pathlib.Path.unlink()` function