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Python

Introduction to Python

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Python OOP

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Sorting Algorithms

Python Delete Files

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In Python, you can delete files using the os module.

First, import it:

import os

🔹 Delete a File

import os

os.remove("sample.txt")

✅ Deletes the file named sample.txt.

🔹 Check if File Exists Before Deleting

import os

if os.path.exists("sample.txt"):
    os.remove("sample.txt")
else:
    print("File does not exist")

✅ Prevents error if the file is missing.

🔹 Delete Empty Folder

import os

os.rmdir("myfolder")

✅ Removes the folder only if it’s empty.

🔹 Delete Non-Empty Folder (Optional)

For non-empty folders, use shutil:

import shutil

shutil.rmtree("myfolder")

⚠️ Use carefully — this deletes everything inside the folder.

🔹 Handle Delete Errors

try:
    os.remove("data.txt")
except FileNotFoundError:
    print("File not found")

✅ Helps avoid crashes when the file doesn’t exist.

🔹 Delete Files with Extension

import os

for file in os.listdir():
    if file.endswith(".log"):
        os.remove(file)

✅ Deletes all .log files in the current directory.

Practice Questions

Q1. Write a Python program to delete a file named demo.txt using os.remove().

Q2. Write a Python program to delete a file only if it exists, using os.path.exists().

Q3. Write a Python program to delete a folder named temp only if it’s empty, using os.rmdir().

Q4. Write a Python program to use try/except to safely delete a file that might not exist.

Q5. Write a Python program to use a loop to delete all .bak files from a directory.

Q6. Write a Python program to use shutil.rmtree() to remove a folder with all its contents.

Q7. Write a Python program to define a function that deletes a file if it is found, and returns success or failure.

Q8. Write a Python program to remove a folder and handle permission errors using a try/except block.

Q9. Write a Python program to prompt the user to enter a file name and delete it if it exists.

Q10. Write a Python program to log a message when a file is deleted successfully (e.g., print "File deleted.").

Python Delete Files Quiz

Q1: Which module is used to delete files in Python?

A. shutil
B. os
C. file
D. del

Q2: What does os.remove("file.txt") do?

A. Removes a folder
B. Hides file
C. Deletes the file
D. Opens the file

Q3: What happens if the file doesn’t exist in os.remove()?

A. Nothing
B. Error
C. Creates file
D. Deletes folder

Q4: What is used to delete folders in Python?

A. os.delete()
B. os.removedir()
C. os.rmdir()
D. file.rmdir()

Q5: Which module can delete a folder with contents?

A. file
B. shutil
C. string
D. open

Q6: What does shutil.rmtree("folder") do?

A. Deletes folder if empty
B. Deletes folder and contents
C. Moves folder
D. Renames folder

Q7: What is the best way to check if file exists before deleting?

A. file.exist()
B. os.isfile()
C. os.path.exists()
D. exists(file)

Q8: Which function is used to list all files?

A. os.get()
B. os.listdir()
C. os.files()
D. os.scan()

Q9: What type of error is raised if file not found?

A. FileError
B. NameError
C. FileNotFoundError
D. IOError

Q10: Can os.remove() delete directories?

A. Yes
B. Only empty ones
C. No
D. Yes with warning
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