What Is Python’s OS Module and How Do You Use It?
Python is a powerful programming language that is equipped with many modules for various purposes. One of the most useful modules in Python is the OS module, which is used to interact with the operating system. The OS module provides an easy and efficient way to interact with the system files, directories, and processes.
What is Python’s OS module?
The OS module in Python is a module that provides a way to interface with the operating system. It provides a way to interact with the file system of the Operating System(OS), which allows you to read, write, and manipulate files and directories. This module also provides a way to execute external commands and manage processes.
The main features of the OS module in Python are:
- File and directory handling: You can create, delete, move, copy, and rename files and directories with the help of the OS module in Python.
- Accessing and manipulating system information: The OS module allows you to access and manipulate many system-related functions such as the current user, environment variables, and the system path.
- Process management: The OS module provides functions to create, manage, and execute multiple processes within the operating system.
How do you use Python’s OS module?
The OS module can be imported simply by writing `import os` at the beginning of your Python script. Once imported, you can use the functions and methods provided by the OS module to interact with the operating system.
Here are some examples of how to use the functions provided by the OS module:
- To get the current working directory, use:
“`
os.getcwd()
“`
- To list all the files and directories in the current directory, use:
“`
os.listdir()
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- To create a new directory, use:
“`
os.mkdir(‘new_directory’)
“`
- To delete a file or directory, use:
“`
os.remove(‘file_to_delete’)
os.rmdir(‘directory_to_delete’)
“`
- To rename a file, use:
“`
os.rename(‘old_file_name’, ‘new_file_name’)
“`
- To execute an external command, use:
“`
os.system(‘command_to_execute’)
“`
These are just some examples of the functions and methods provided by the OS module in Python. There are many more functions and methods available that can be explored and used according to your specific use case.