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ICSM Computer

IT-Hardware & Networking

Ravi Vishwakarma is a dedicated Software Developer with a passion for crafting efficient and innovative solutions. With a keen eye for detail and years of experience, he excels in developing robust software systems that meet client needs. His expertise spans across multiple programming languages and technologies, making him a valuable asset in any software development project.

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ICSM Computer

ICSM Computer

02-Nov-2025

To delete a file in Python, you can use the built-in os or pathlib modules.

Here are the most common methods:

Method 1: Using os.remove()

import os

file_path = "example.txt"

# Check if file exists before deleting
if os.path.exists(file_path):
    os.remove(file_path)
    print(f"{file_path} deleted successfully.")
else:
    print("File does not exist.")

When to use:
Use this for simple file deletion where you just need to remove a file by path.

Method 2: Using os.unlink()

import os

file_path = "example.txt"

try:
    os.unlink(file_path)
    print("File deleted successfully.")
except FileNotFoundError:
    print("File not found.")

os.remove() and os.unlink() are essentially the same — unlink() is the underlying system call.

Method 3: Using pathlib.Path.unlink() (Modern Approach)

from pathlib import Path

file = Path("example.txt")

if file.exists():
    file.unlink()
    print(f"{file} deleted successfully.")
else:
    print("File does not exist.")

When to use:
Prefer pathlib if you are working with modern Python (3.6+) and want object-oriented path handling.

Method 4: Deleting Multiple Files with a Pattern

import glob
import os

for file_path in glob.glob("*.log"):  # delete all .log files in current directory
    os.remove(file_path)
    print(f"Deleted: {file_path}")

Error Handling Tip

Always wrap file deletion in a try-except block to avoid crashes:

import os

try:
    os.remove("example.txt")
except FileNotFoundError:
    print("File not found.")
except PermissionError:
    print("Permission denied.")
except Exception as e:
    print(f"Error: {e}")
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