How to remove a directory including all its files in python?

Question

I'm working on some Python code. I want to remove the new_folder including all its files at the end of program.

Can someone please guide me how I can do that? I have seen different commands like os.rmdir but it only removes the path. Here is my code:

for files in sorted(os.listdir(path)):
  os.system("mv "+path+" new_folder")`

The code above will move a folder (called check) into new_folder. I want to remove that check folder from the new_folder.

Highclass

Possible duplicate of How do I remove/delete a folder that is not empty with Python? – Sadiesadira

Answer 1

If you want to delete the file

import os
os.remove("path_to_file")

but you can`t delete directory by using above code if you want to remove directory then use this

import os
os.rmdir("path_to_dir")

from above command, you can delete a directory if it's empty if it's not empty then you can use shutil module

import shutil
shutil.rmtree("path_to_dir")

All above method are Python way and if you know about your operating system that this method depends on OS all above method is not dependent

import os
os.system("rm -rf _path_to_dir")

Grouper

Oh well here is how you this thing:... but actually this is how you do this thing: ... but REALLY this is what you asked for:... – Unstable

Answer 2

Just use shutil.rmtree

import shutil
shutil.rmtree(path)

Gatt

Answer 3

Here's my Approach:

# function that deletes all files and then folder

import glob, os

def del_folder(dir_name):
    
    dir_path = os.getcwd() +  "\{}".format(dir_name)
    try:
        os.rmdir(dir_path)  # remove the folder
    except:
        print("OSError")   # couldn't remove the folder because we have files inside it
    finally:
        # now iterate through files in that folder and delete them one by one and delete the folder at the end
        try:
            for filepath in os.listdir(dir_path):
                os.remove(dir_path +  "\{}".format(filepath))
            os.rmdir(dir_path)
            print("folder is deleted")
        except:
            print("folder is not there")

Washington

Can anyone comment on this method? I see negative votes but I do not fundamentally disagree with what is written above – Torch

Answer 4

use os.system("rm -rf" + whatever_path +" new_folder")

Altruism

But I want to remove a folder that is inside another folder. – Highclass

I want to use something like. If os.path.exists() then remove – Highclass

the use os.system("rm -rf " + path + "/new_folder"). Also, the -f function does not throw an error if the folder does not exist so you are already set – Altruism

Better to use shutil.rmtree suggested in other answers. This answer opens up the possibility of arbitrary shell commands execution if the string whatever_path comes from untrusted input. – Thessa