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Moving files from one directory to another might not sound like a big deal, but sometimes, it helps a lot in manipulating files.

This tutorial will show you some ways to move files from one directory to another in Python.

shutil.move()Moving files using functions in Python

shutilThe module is a Python module that helps in performing high-level operations on a file or a set of files. This module plays a role in operations like copying a file from somewhere or deleting a file.

shutilTo move a file from one directory to another with the help of the module, call shutil.move().

example:

import shutil
import os

file_source = "Path/Of/Directory"
file_destination = "Path/Of/Directory"

get_files = os.listdir(file_source)

for g in get_files:
    shutil.move(file_source + g, file_destination)

Here, listdir()the function from osthe module is used to get a complete list of all the files present in a directory. We use forthe loop to move the files and note that the function shutilof the module move()is used to transfer files from one directory to another.

os.rename()Use the or os.replace()function to move files in Python

There are many times when a user needs to connect to the main system through Python. In such situations, osmodules come into play. osModules basically act as an intermediary between the user and the computer's operating system so that the user can connect with the operating system properly.

One of the functions of this module is the module which is used to move files from one location to another rename(). This function moves the files by renaming the directory names of those files.

Another function of this module is replace()the rename function. This function helps in renaming a file or the current directory. The target must be a file and not a directory. So, if the target is a file, then it will be replaced without any error.

In summary, the function is used when the final destination of the file is in the same disk as its source rename(). If the destination of the file must be changed, it must be used replace().

example:

import os

file_source = "Path/Of/Directory"
file_destination = "Path/Of/Directory"

get_files = os.listdir(file_source)

for g in get_files:
    os.replace(file_source + g, file_destination + g)

Here too, we follow the same process by first defining the path to the initial and final directories. Then we use listdir()the function to get a list of all the files in the current directory. After that, we use forthe loop to overwrite the destinations of these files.

pathlibMoving files in Python using the module

The module in Python pathlibis a standard module that provides objects for manipulating different files and dictionaries. The core object for working with files is called path.

example:

from pathlib import Path
import shutil
import os

file_source = "Path/Of/Directory"
file_destination = "Path/Of/Directory"

for file in Path(file_source).glob("randomfile.txt"):
    shutil.move(os.path.join(file_source, file), file_destination)