Python | os.fsdecode() method

OS module in Python provides functions for interacting with the operating system. OS comes under Python’s standard utility modules. This module provides a portable way of using operating system dependent functionality.

os.fsdecode() method in Python is used to decode the specified filename from the filesystem encoding with ‘surrogateescape‘ error handler, or ‘strict‘ on Windows;

Syntax: os.fsdecode(filename)

Parameter:
filename: A path-like object representing an encoded file. A path-like object is either a str or bytes object representing a path.

Return Type: This method returns a string which represents the decoded filename.

Code: use of os.fsdecode() method

# Python program to explain os.fsdecode() method

# importing os module
import os

# Filename encoded to the filesystem encoding
# with 'surrogateescape' error handler
# or 'strict' error handler
filename = b"/home / user / F\xc3\x8e\xe2\x95\x9a\xc3\x88.txt"

# Decode the above filename
# form the filesystem encoding
# with 'surrogateescape' error handler,
# or 'strict' (On Windows)
decode = os.fsdecode(filename)

# Print the decoded filename
print("Decoded filename:", decode)

# To encode a filename to the filesystem
# encoding with 'surrogateescape' error handler
# or 'strict' error handler os.encode() method
# can be used

Output:

Encoded filename: b'/home/user/F\xc3\x8e\xe2\x95\x9a\xc3\x88.txt'
Decoded filename: /home/user/FÎ?È.txt

Reference: https://docs.python.org/3/library/os.html#os.fsdecode