Python Pathlib.suffixes Explained | File Extensions

Python's pathlib module simplifies file path manipulation. One of its useful methods is suffixes. This method helps extract file extensions from a path.

In this article, we'll explore how to use pathlib.suffixes effectively. We'll also provide examples and outputs for better understanding.

What is pathlib.suffixes?

The suffixes method returns a list of file extensions from a path. It is particularly useful when dealing with files that have multiple extensions.

For example, a file named archive.tar.gz has two extensions: .tar and .gz. The suffixes method will return both.

Syntax of pathlib.suffixes

The syntax for pathlib.suffixes is straightforward. You call it on a Path object.

from pathlib import Path

path = Path("archive.tar.gz")
suffixes = path.suffixes
print(suffixes)
    

['.tar', '.gz']
    

In this example, the suffixes method returns a list containing .tar and .gz.

Practical Use Cases

Handling Multiple Extensions: Some files have multiple extensions. For example, archive.tar.gz. The suffixes method helps extract all extensions.

File Type Identification: You can use suffixes to identify file types. This is useful in applications that process different file formats.

Path Manipulation: Combine suffixes with other pathlib methods like stem or parent for advanced path manipulation.

Example: Extracting All Extensions

Let's look at an example where we extract all extensions from a file path.

from pathlib import Path

path = Path("document.backup.tar.gz")
suffixes = path.suffixes
print(suffixes)
    

['.backup', '.tar', '.gz']
    

Here, the suffixes method returns all extensions: .backup, .tar, and .gz.

Example: Filtering Specific Extensions

You can also filter specific extensions from the list. This is useful when you only need certain file types.

from pathlib import Path

path = Path("image.png.zip")
suffixes = path.suffixes
if '.zip' in suffixes:
    print("This is a zipped file.")
    

This is a zipped file.
    

In this example, we check if the file is zipped by looking for the .zip extension.

Combining with Other Pathlib Methods

The suffixes method works well with other pathlib methods. For example, you can combine it with with_suffix to change file extensions.

from pathlib import Path

path = Path("report.txt.backup")
new_path = path.with_suffix('.doc')
print(new_path)
    

report.txt.doc
    

Here, we change the last extension from .backup to .doc.

Conclusion

The pathlib.suffixes method is a powerful tool for working with file extensions. It simplifies extracting and manipulating file paths in Python.

By combining it with other pathlib methods, you can achieve advanced file path manipulations. This makes your code cleaner and more efficient.

For more on pathlib, check out our guides on name and symlink_to.