Change File Extension In Python

Changing file extensions in Python can be a common task when working with files. Whether you need to modify file types for compatibility, organize your files, or perform some other operation, Python provides several methods to achieve this. In this article, we will explore four different methods to change file extensions using Python.

What is File Extension?

A File Extension is a suffix appended to the end of a filename to indicate the type of file and the format it is in. It is usually separated from the filename by a dot (period) and typically consists of three or four characters. File extensions are commonly used in operating systems to associate files with specific applications or to recognize the file format.

Example :

.jpg - JPEG image file
.docx - Microsoft Word document file
pdf - Adobe PDF document
.py - Python source code file4

How To Change File Extension In Python?

Below, are the ways To Change File Extension In Python.

• Using OS Module
• Using shutil Module
• Using pathlib Module

Change File Extension Using os Module

Python OS module in Python provides a simple and platform-independent way to interact with the operating system. We can leverage this module to rename files and change their extensions. In this example, below method extracts the base name of the file using os.path.splitext and then creates a new file path by appending the desired extension. The os.rename function is then used to rename the file.

Python3

import os

def change_extension(file_path, new_extension):
    base_name, _ = os.path.splitext(file_path)
    new_file_path = base_name + "." + new_extension
    os.rename(file_path, new_file_path)

# Example usage:
change_extension("example.txt", "csv")
print("Successfully Changed!")

Output :

Successfully Changed!

Change File Extension Using shutil Module

The shutil module provides a higher-level interface for file operations, including file renaming. This module simplifies the process of renaming files compared to using the os module directly. Here, we use shutil.move to achieve the same result as in the first method. This method is often considered more readable and may be preferred for its simplicity.

Python3

import shutil

def change_extension(file_path, new_extension):
    base_name, _ = os.path.splitext(file_path)
    new_file_path = base_name + "." + new_extension
    shutil.move(file_path, new_file_path)

# Example usage:
change_extension("example.txt", "csv")
print("Successfully Changed!")

Output :

Successfully Changed!

Change File Extension Using pathlib Module

The pathlib module provides an object-oriented approach to file system paths, making it more convenient to manipulate paths and filenames. In this method, we use the pathlib.Path class to represent the file path. The with_suffix method is then used to change the file extension, and rename is used for the actual file renaming.

Python3

from pathlib import Path

def change_extension(file_path, new_extension):
    path = Path(file_path)
    new_file_path = path.with_suffix("." + new_extension)
    path.rename(new_file_path)

# Example usage:
change_extension("example.txt", "csv")

Output :

Successfully Changed!

Conclusion

Changing file extensions in Python can be accomplished through various methods, each offering its own advantages. Whether you choose the straightforward approach of the os module, the convenience of shutil, the object-oriented elegance of pathlib, or the legacy support of os.path, the key is to understand the requirements of your project and select the method that best suits your needs.