Python – List Files in a Directory
Directory also sometimes known as a folder are unit organizational structure in computer’s file system for storing and locating files or more folders. Python now supports a number of APIs to list the directory contents. For instance, we can use the Path.iterdir, os.scandir, os.walk, Path.rglob, or os.listdir functions.
Directory in use: gfg
Method 1: Os module
- os.listdir() method gets the list of all files and directories in a specified directory. By default, it is the current directory.
Syntax:
os.listdir(path)
Parameters:
Path of the directory
Return Type: returns a list of all files and directories in the specified path
Example 1:
Python
# import OS moduleimport os# Get the list of all files and directoriesdir_list = os.listdir(path)print("Files and directories in '", path, "' :")# prints all filesprint(dir_list) |
Output:
Program 2: To get only txt files.
Python3
#import OSimport osfor x in os.listdir(): if x.endswith(".txt"): # Prints only text file present in My Folder print(x) |
Output:
- OS.walk() generates file names in a directory tree.
Python3
# import OS moduleimport os# This is my path# to store files in a listlist = []# dirs=directoriesfor (root, dirs, file) in os.walk(path): for f in file: if '.txt' in f: print(f) |
Output:
- os.scandir() is supported for Python 3.5 and greater.
Syntax:
os.scandir(path = ‘.’)
Return Type: returns an iterator of os.DirEntry object.
Example:
Python3
# import OS moduleimport os# This is my path# Scan the directory and get# an iterator of os.DirEntry objects# corresponding to entries in it# using os.scandir() methodobj = os.scandir()# List all files and directories in the specified pathprint("Files and Directories in '% s':" % path)for entry in obj: if entry.is_dir() or entry.is_file(): print(entry.name) |
Output:
Method 2: Using glob
The glob module is used to retrieve files/path names matching a specified pattern.
- glob() method
With glob, we can use wild cards (“*, ?, [ranges]) to make path retrieval more simple and convenient.
Python3
import glob# This is my pathpath="C:\\Users\\Vanshi\\Desktop\\gfg"# Using '*' patternprint('\nNamed with wildcard *:')for files in glob.glob(path + '*'): print(files)# Using '?' patternprint('\nNamed with wildcard ?:')for files in glob.glob(path + '?.txt'): print(files)# Using [0-9] patternprint('\nNamed with wildcard ranges:')for files in glob.glob(path + '/*[0-9].*'): print(files) |
Output:
- iglob() method can be used to print filenames recursively if the recursive parameter is set to True.
Syntax:
glob.glob(pathname, *, recursive=False)
Example:
Python3
import glob# This is my pathpath="C:\\Users\\Vanshi\\Desktop\\gfg**\\*.txt"# It returns an iterator which will# be printed simultaneously.print("\nUsing glob.iglob()")# Prints all types of txt files present in a Pathfor file in glob.iglob(path, recursive=True): print(file) |
Output:
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