Here is a clear, simple, and exam-ready explanation of Renaming and Deleting Files in Python.

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⭐ Renaming & Deleting Files in Python

Python provides file management operations such as renaming and deleting files using the os module.

To use these functions:

import os

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⭐ 1. Renaming a File

Python uses os.rename(old_name, new_name) to rename a file.

✔ Syntax

os.rename("old_filename", "new_filename")

✔ Example

import os

os.rename("old.txt", "new.txt")
print("File renamed successfully!")

✔ If the file exists → renamed
❌ If the file does not exist → FileNotFoundError
❌ If new name already exists → FileExistsError (on some systems)

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⭐ 2. Renaming a File with Path

os.rename("C:/files/data.txt", "C:/files/data_backup.txt")

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⭐ 3. Renaming Directories

You can rename folders too:

os.rename("old_folder", "new_folder")

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⭐ 4. Deleting a File

To delete a file, Python uses os.remove() or os.unlink().

Both do the same job.

✔ Syntax

os.remove("filename")

or

os.unlink("filename")

✔ Example

import os

os.remove("sample.txt")
print("File deleted successfully!")

✔ Deletes the file if it exists
❌ If file does not exist → FileNotFoundError

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⭐ 5. Check if File Exists Before Deleting

Good practice:

import os

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

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⭐ 6. Deleting a Folder

Use os.rmdir() to delete empty folders only.

os.rmdir("myfolder")

❌ Throws error if folder is not empty.

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⭐ Deleting Non-Empty Folder (Advanced)

Use shutil.rmtree():

import shutil
shutil.rmtree("myfolder")

⚠ This deletes everything inside the folder — use carefully.

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⭐ Exception Handling During Delete/Rename

import os

try:
    os.remove("abc.txt")
except FileNotFoundError:
    print("File does not exist!")
except PermissionError:
    print("Permission denied!")

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⭐ Exam-Ready Summary

Renaming Files

• Use os.rename(old, new)
• Works for files and folders
• Raises error if file not found

Deleting Files

• Use os.remove(filename) or os.unlink(filename)
• Removes the file permanently
• Check file existence using os.path.exists()
• Use os.rmdir() for empty folders
• Use shutil.rmtree() for non-empty folders

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⭐ Perfect 5–6 Line Exam Answer

Python provides file renaming and deletion operations through the os module. A file can be renamed using os.rename(old_name, new_name) and deleted using os.remove(filename) or os.unlink(filename). Before deleting, os.path.exists() can be used to check file existence. For directories, os.rmdir() deletes empty folders, while shutil.rmtree() removes non-empty folders. These operations help manage files programmatically.

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