Python | os.get_inheritable() 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.get_inheritable() method in Python is used to get the value of inheritable flag of the specified file descriptor.

Inheritable flag of a file descriptor tells that if it can be inherited by the child processes or not. For example: if the parent process has a file descriptor 4 in use for a particular file and parent creates a child process then the child process will also have file descriptor 4 in use for that same file, if the inheritable flag of the file descriptor 4 in the parent process is set.

Syntax: os.get_inheritable(fd)

Parameter:
fd: A file descriptor whose inheritable flag is to be checked.

Return Type: This method returns a Boolean value of class bool which represents the value of inheritable flag of the specified file descriptor.

Code: Use of os.get_inheritable() method to get the value of “inheritable” flag of the given file descriptor.

# Python program to explain os.get_inheritable() method

# importing os module
import os

# File path
path = "/home/ihritik/Desktop/file.txt"

# Open the file and get
# the file descriptor associated
# with it using os.open() method
fd = os.open(path, os.O_RDWR | os.O_CREAT)


# Get the value of
# inheritable flag of the
# file descriptor fd using
# os.get_inheritable() method
inheritable = os.get_inheritable(fd)

# print the value of inheritable flag
print("Value of inheritable flag:", inheritable)


# Value of inheritable flag can be set / unset
# using os.set_inheritable() method
# For example:
# change inheritable flag
os.set_inheritable(fd, True)


# Print the value of inheritable flag
inheritable = os.get_inheritable(fd)
print("Value of inheritable flag:", inheritable)

Output:

Value of inheritable flag: False
Value of inheritable flag: True