Python Pathlib.match() Explained | File Path Matching

The Pathlib.match() method in Python is a powerful tool for matching file paths against specific patterns. It is part of the pathlib module, which provides an object-oriented approach to handling file system paths. This method is particularly useful when you need to filter or search for files based on their names or paths.

What is Pathlib.match()?

The Pathlib.match() method checks whether a given path matches a specified pattern. The pattern can include wildcards like * and ?, making it flexible for various matching scenarios. This method returns True if the path matches the pattern, otherwise False.

Syntax of Pathlib.match()

The syntax for Pathlib.match() is straightforward:

pathlib.Path.match(pattern)

Here, pattern is the string pattern you want to match against the path. The pattern can include wildcards and other special characters.

How to Use Pathlib.match()

Let's look at a simple example to understand how Pathlib.match() works. Suppose you have a file named example.txt in your current directory, and you want to check if it matches a specific pattern.

from pathlib import Path

# Create a Path object
file_path = Path("example.txt")

# Check if the file matches the pattern
if file_path.match("*.txt"):
    print("The file matches the pattern.")
else:
    print("The file does not match the pattern.")

The file matches the pattern.

In this example, the pattern "*.txt" matches any file with a .txt extension. Since example.txt has this extension, the output is The file matches the pattern.

Advanced Usage of Pathlib.match()

You can also use more complex patterns with Pathlib.match(). For instance, you can match files in a specific directory or with a specific prefix. Here's an example:

from pathlib import Path

# Create a Path object
file_path = Path("documents/report_2023.txt")

# Check if the file matches the pattern
if file_path.match("documents/report_*.txt"):
    print("The file matches the pattern.")
else:
    print("The file does not match the pattern.")

The file matches the pattern.

In this case, the pattern "documents/report_*.txt" matches any file in the documents directory that starts with report_ and ends with .txt.

Combining Pathlib.match() with Other Methods

You can combine Pathlib.match() with other methods like Pathlib.cwd() or Pathlib.home() to perform more complex operations. For example, you can search for files in the current working directory or the user's home directory.

Here's an example using Pathlib.cwd():

from pathlib import Path

# Get the current working directory
current_dir = Path.cwd()

# List all .txt files in the current directory
for file in current_dir.iterdir():
    if file.match("*.txt"):
        print(file.name)

example.txt
report.txt

This script lists all .txt files in the current working directory. The Pathlib.cwd() method retrieves the current directory, and Pathlib.match() filters the files.

Conclusion

The Pathlib.match() method is a versatile tool for matching file paths against patterns. It is easy to use and can be combined with other pathlib methods for more advanced file handling tasks. Whether you're filtering files in a directory or searching for specific file types, Pathlib.match() can simplify your code and make it more readable.

For more information on related methods, check out our guides on Python Pathlib.cwd(), Python Pathlib.home(), and Python Pathlib.absolute().