Python Delete Files, Folders

To delete files we will use os module, and remove() function:

import os

print("WARNING, files will be deleted")
print("-" * 50)

os.remove("external.txt")
os.remove("external_2.txt")

If we try to delete directory with content using rmdir(), operation will fail:

import os

print("Trying to delete Full Folder Will Fail")
print("-" * 50)

os.rmdir("FULL_FOLDER")

Result: 

Traceback (most recent call last):
  File "C:\Python38-64\ARCHIVE\learning-python.py", line 6, in <module>
    os.rmdir("FULL_FOLDER")
OSError: [WinError 145] The directory is not empty: 'FULL_FOLDER'
>>> 

That function can be used only on empty folders:

import os

print("With rmdir You Can delete only Empty Folder")
print("-" * 50)

os.rmdir("EMPTY_FOLDER")

Result: 

With rmdir You Can delete only Empty Folder
--------------------------------------------------
>>> 

What if you must delete folder and everything in it ? In that case, use "shutil" module and rmtree() function:

import shutil

print("With shutil.rmtree() You Can delete Full Folder")
print("-" * 50)

shutil.rmtree("FULL_FOLDER")

Result:

With shutil.rmtree() You Can delete Full Folder
--------------------------------------------------
>>> 

Well done.

It's time to learn about Try, Except and Finally blocks.