Python Tip: pathlib

Build and inspect file paths without joining strings

Learn how pathlib makes file paths easy to find, build, inspect, and change.

Python Tip: pathlib

Need to work with file paths in Python?

pathlib makes paths easy to find, build, inspect, and change without manually joining or slicing strings!

Create a Path

Import Path from pathlib. You can get useful folders from Python or turn your own path string into a Path object.

from pathlib import Path

current_folder = Path.cwd()
home_folder = Path.home()
file_path = Path("reports/2026/sales.csv")

Path.cwd() gets the current working folder. Path.home() gets the current user’s home folder. Neither command creates or opens anything.

Build Paths with /

pathlib makes it extremely easy to build paths. Use the / operator to join folders and file names.

from pathlib import Path

reports = Path("reports")
file_path = reports / "2026" / "sales.csv"

print(file_path)

reports/2026/sales.csv

There is no need to add slashes to strings by hand. pathlib joins the pieces for us.

Inspect a Path

A Path object makes it easy to get the most useful parts of a file path.

from pathlib import Path

file_path = Path("reports/2026/sales.csv")

print("Name:", file_path.name)
print("Stem:", file_path.stem)
print("Extension:", file_path.suffix)
print("Folder:", file_path.parent)

Name: sales.csv
Stem: sales
Extension: .csv
Folder: reports/2026

The stem is the name without the extension. The suffix is the extension, including the dot.

Change a Path

You can create a path with a different file name or extension without editing the string yourself.

from pathlib import Path

csv_path = Path("reports/sales.csv")

json_path = csv_path.with_suffix(".json")
old_path = csv_path.with_name("sales-old.csv")

print("New type:", json_path)
print("New name:", old_path)

New type: reports/sales.json
New name: reports/sales-old.csv

These methods return new Path objects. They do not rename, move, or change any files.

Paths Depend on the OS

Path follows the rules of the operating system running your code. On macOS and Linux, it creates a PosixPath. On Windows, it creates a WindowsPath.

• POSIX: /reports/2026/sales.csv
• Windows: C:\reports\2026\sales.csv

This automatic behavior is useful for paths your program creates and uses on the current computer. To inspect path text written for a specific system, use PureWindowsPath or PurePosixPath.

Wrap-Up

Use Path to build and inspect file paths without manually changing strings.

Use / to build paths and properties like name, stem, suffix, and parent to inspect them.

Remember that Path follows the current operating system’s rules. Use PureWindowsPath or PurePosixPath for path text from a specific system.

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- Shep4