Python | os.path.lexists() 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.path module is sub module of OS module in python used for common path name manipulation.

os.path.lexists() method in Python is used to check whether the given path exists or not. Unlike os.path.exists() method, it returns True for broken symbolic link.

This method behaves similar to os.path.exists() on the platform where os.path.lstat() method is not available.

Syntax: os.path.lexists(path)

Parameter:
path: A path-like object representing a file system path. A path-like object is either a string or bytes object representing a path.

Return Type: This method returns a Boolean value of class bool. This method returns True if path exists otherwise returns False. It will return True for broken symbolic links.

Code : Use of os.path.lexists() method

# Python program to explain os.path.lexists() method

# importing os.path module
import os.path

# Path
path = '/home/User/Desktop'

# Check whether the Given
# path exists or not
pathExists = os.path.lexists(path)
print(pathExists)

# Path
path = '/home/User/Downloads/file.txt'

# Check whether the specified
# path exists or not
pathExists = os.path.lexists(path)
print(pathExists)


# os.path.lexists() method
# will also return True if
# the given path is
# broken symbolic link

Output:

True
False

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