Delete multiple directories in python

Question

In python, I understand that I can delete multiple files with the same name using the following command for eg:

for f in glob.glob("file_name_*.txt"):
    os.remove(f)

And that a single directory can be deleted with shutil.rmtree('/path/to/dir') - and that this command will delete the directory even if the directory is not empty. On the other hand, os.rmdir() needs that the directory be empty.

I actually want to delete multiple directories with the same name, and they are not empty. So, I am looking for something like shutil.rmtree('directory_*')

Is there a way to do this with python?

Dietrich Epp · Accepted Answer · 2013-03-27 07:29:51Z

2

You have all of the pieces: glob() iterates, and rmtree() deletes:

for path in glob.glob("directory_*"):
    shutil.rmtree(path)

This will throw OSError if one of the globbed paths names a file, or for any other reason that rmtree() can fail. You can add error handling as you see fit, once you decide how you want to handle the errors. It doesn't make sense to add error handling unless you know what you want to do with the error, so I have left error handling out.

edited Mar 27, 2013 at 7:29

answered Mar 27, 2013 at 6:51

Dietrich Epp

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11 Comments

Dietrich Epp Over a year ago

Could someone explain how this doesn't answer the question?

wim Over a year ago

doesn't actually check that it's a directory. consider including if os.path.isdir or something..

Dietrich Epp Over a year ago

@wim: That's grounds for a comment or edit, not a downvote. Use the system.

SethMMorton Over a year ago

You could wrap the shutil.rmtree in a try: except OSError:` block. That would solve all the above issues.

Dietrich Epp Over a year ago

Since it's not clear how the poster wants to handle errors, passing the exception up seems like decent default behavior to me.

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