Python — Delete Files

Deleting a file

import os

os.remove("old-notes.txt")

# or the modern pathlib way:
from pathlib import Path

Path("old-notes.txt").unlink()

Both raise FileNotFoundError if the file doesn't exist — guard it:

path = Path("cache.tmp")
if path.exists():
    path.unlink()
# …or simpler:
path.unlink(missing_ok=True)     # Python 3.8+

Deleting an empty folder

os.rmdir("empty-folder")          # fails if anything is inside

Path("empty-folder").rmdir()      # same rule

Deleting a whole tree — rmtree ⚠️

shutil.rmtree deletes folders recursively and permanently:

import shutil

shutil.rmtree("build-output")     # folder + EVERYTHING inside, gone

No recycle bin. No undo. Triple-check the path before running — a stray variable turns cleanup into catastrophe.

The safer habit: send to trash

pip install send2trash

from send2trash import send2trash

send2trash("important-maybe.txt")   # → OS Recycle Bin/Trash, recoverable

Scripts that touch user data should trash rather than annihilate.

Common file operations while you're at it

import shutil

shutil.copy("a.txt", "backup/a.txt")       # copy file
shutil.copytree("src", "dst")               # copy folder tree
shutil.move("draft.md", "published/")       # move/rename (also works for folders)

os.rename("old-name.txt", "new-name.txt")   # rename only

Path("new-dir").mkdir(exist_ok=True)        # make folder; no error if present
Path("deep/nested/dir").mkdir(parents=True, exist_ok=True)

Cleanup pattern: old files only

from pathlib import Path
from time import time

cutoff = time() - 7 * 86400          # older than 7 days

for f in Path("logs").glob("*.log"):
    if f.stat().st_mtime < cutoff:
        f.unlink(missing_ok=True)
        print("removed", f.name)

Glob-filter-stat-delete — the shape of every rotation/cleanup script.

Safety checklist: never delete from user input without validation · prefer missing_ok=True over exists-checks · test scripts on a scratch folder first · print what you're about to remove.

Mini Practice

1. Create, then unlink(missing_ok=True) a temp file twice.
2. Build a folder tree; delete it with rmtree (on a scratch dir!).
3. Install send2trash; trash a file; restore it from your bin.
4. mkdir(parents=True) deep path; copy files into it with shutil.
5. Write the 7-day log-cleanup script; dry-run by printing first.

Next: NumPy →