Python Delete File | Remove File | Multiple Files if exists

How you will delete a file in python? In this tutorial, you will learn about Python delete file (single or multiples) if the file exists. Must recommend reading Python Create File because in this tutorial we are deleting the same files, which create in previous tutorials.

How to Python Delete File?

To delete a file in python, you must import the OS module, and run itsos.remove() function or other modules with functions. You must check before the file is available or not, else the program will throw an error.

Delete methods in Python

This is the python delete methods for file and folders.

• os.remove() – Remove (delete) the file path.
• os.rmdir() will remove an empty directory.
• shutil.rmtree() will delete a directory and all its contents.

Python syntax to delete a file

You must import the OS module to delete a file in python.

OR

if the file in the same place of project

Python Delete File Example 

First, check whether the file or folder exists or not then only delete that file. This can be achieved in two ways :

•   os.path.isfile(“/path/fileName”)
•  or use exception handling.

We assume have a file in project “cFile.txt.” , for detail read the previous tutorial Create File tutorial. Check below the example program of how to python delete a file if exists.

if the file does not exist then the output will be print() “File does not exist”

Python Delete Folder/Directory

To delete an entire folder, you have to use the os.rmdir() method. It will delete the only empty folder. For complete delete for the file in a folder using shutil.rmtree().

Delete multiple files

To delete multiple files, just loop over your list of files and use the above os.rmdir() function.

To delete a folder containing all files you want to remove have to import shutil package. Then you can remove the folder as follows.

Do comment if you have in doubt or suggestion or code. This chapter comes under the Python File Handling section.

Exercise | Practice

• How do I delete a specified number of files in a directory in Python?
• How to remove a file if exists and handle errors?

Python File Handling Quiz

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Python File Handling to test your knowledge – ( Create, Open, Update, delete and more about in Python)
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1. Question 1 of 10

   1. Question

   Which of the following command is used to open a file “c:\textFile.txt” in read-mode only?

   • file = open(“c:\ textFile.txt”, “r”)
   • file = open(“c:\\ textFile.txt”, “r”)
   • file = open(file = “c:\ textFile.txt”, “r+”)
   • file = open(file = “c:\\ textFile.txt”, “r+”)
   Correct
   

   Incorrect
   
2. Question 2 of 10

   2. Question

   Which functions use to check if a file exists?
   File name = “logo”

   • os.path.isFile(logo)
   • os.path.exists(logo)
   • os.path.isfile(logo)
   • os.isFile(logo)
   Correct
   

   Incorrect
   
3. Question 3 of 10

   3. Question

   How do you insert something on a new line in a file?

   • \n
   • write.newline('x')
   • type the content on the line below
   • You cannot do this
   Correct
   

   Incorrect
   
4. Question 4 of 10

   4. Question

   Appending to a file means adding extra data into the file.

   • True
   • False
   Correct
   

   Incorrect
   
5. Question 5 of 10

   5. Question

   What is the last action that must be performed on a file?

   • Save
   • Close
   • End
   • Write
   Correct
   

   Incorrect
   
6. Question 6 of 10

   6. Question

   What is the data type of data read from a file?

   • Boolean
   • Real
   • Number
   • String
   Correct
   

   Incorrect
   
7. Question 7 of 10

   7. Question

   Can you create a file without using file modes in Python?

   • True
   • False
   Correct
   

   Incorrect
   
8. Question 8 of 10

   8. Question

   Reading from a file often involves using…

   • Comments
   • A loop
   • A condition
   • None
   Correct
   

   Incorrect
   
9. Question 9 of 10

   9. Question

   Which of the following statements are true regarding the opening modes of a file?

   • When you open a file for reading, if the file does not exist, an error occurs.
   • When you open a file for writing, if the file does not exist, an error occurs.
   • When you open a file for reading, if the file does not exist, the program will open an empty file.
   • When you open a file for writing, if the file does not exist, a new file is created.
   • When you open a file for writing, if the file exists, the existing file is overwritten with the new file.
   Correct
   

   Incorrect
   
10. Question 10 of 10

    10. Question

    Which of the following commands option right to read the entire contents of a file as a string using the file object ?

    • tmpfile.read(n)
    • tmpfile.read()
    • tmpfile.readline()
    • tmpfile.readlines()
    Correct
    

    Incorrect
    

Do comment if you have any doubt and suggestion on this tutorial.

Note: This example (Project) is developed in PyCharm 2018.2 (Community Edition)
JRE: 1.8.0
JVM: OpenJDK 64-Bit Server VM by JetBrains s.r.o
macOS 10.13.6
Python 3.7
All Example Python delete file if exists are in Python 3, so it may change its different from python 2 or upgraded versions.

Rohit

Degree in Computer Science and Engineer: App Developer and has multiple Programming languages experience. Enthusiasm for technology & like learning technical.