In Python, the os module provides a wide range of methods for interacting with the operating system. One useful function from this module is os.rmdir(), which allows you to delete directories. In this blog post, we will explore how to use os.rmdir() to remove directories in Python.

Syntax of os.rmdir()

Before we dive into the usage, let’s take a look at the syntax of os.rmdir():

os.rmdir(path)

The path parameter represents the path of the directory you want to delete. It can be a relative or absolute path.

Deleting a Directory

To delete a directory using os.rmdir(), we first need to import the os module:

import os

Let’s say we have a directory named my_directory that we want to remove. We can use os.rmdir() as follows:

os.rmdir("my_directory")

If the directory is located in a different path, you need to provide the complete path.

Handling Exceptions

It’s important to note that os.rmdir() will raise an exception if the directory is not empty. To handle this exception, we can use a try-except block:

try:
    os.rmdir("my_directory")
except OSError as e:
    print(f"Failed to delete: {e}")

In this example, if an exception is raised, the error message will be printed.

Conclusion

The os.rmdir() function in Python provides a simple way to delete directories. Remember to handle exceptions appropriately, especially when trying to delete non-empty directories. Now you have the knowledge to remove directories using os.rmdir() in Python.

Happy coding!