shutil copy python with code examples

The shutil module in Python is a powerful library that provides a number of high-level operations on files and directories. One of its most commonly used functions is shutil.copy(), which can be used to copy files and directories.

In this article, we will take a look at how to use shutil.copy() with code examples.

Copying a File

The simplest use case for shutil.copy() is to copy a single file from one location to another. Here's an example:

import shutil

# Source file
src = "file.txt"

# Destination file
dst = "file_copy.txt"

# Copy the file
shutil.copy(src, dst)

In this example, the file file.txt is copied to a new location and named file_copy.txt.

Copying a Directory

shutil.copy() can also be used to copy entire directories and their contents. Here's an example:

import shutil

# Source directory
src = "dir1"

# Destination directory
dst = "dir2"

# Copy the directory
shutil.copytree(src, dst)

In this example, the directory dir1 and all of its contents are copied to a new location and named dir2.

Copying with Metadata

By default, shutil.copy() copies only the data of a file or directory. However, it also has the option to preserve metadata, such as file permissions, timestamps, and flags. Here's an example:

import shutil

# Source file
src = "file.txt"

# Destination file
dst = "file_copy.txt"

# Copy the file with metadata
shutil.copy2(src, dst)

In this example, the file file.txt is copied to a new location and named file_copy.txt, along with all its metadata.

Copying with Progress Bar

To track the progress of a file copy, you can use the shutil.copyfileobj() function, which takes a file-like object as an argument. Here's an example:

import shutil
import sys

# Source file
src = "file.txt"

# Destination file
dst = "file_copy.txt"

# Open the source file for reading
with open(src, "rb") as src_file:
    # Open the destination file for writing
    with open(dst, "wb") as dst_file:
        # Copy the file with a progress bar
        shutil.copyfileobj(src_file, dst_file, length=1024, callback=lambda x,y: sys.stdout.write("\rCopying: %d%%" % (x*100/y)))
    print("\nFile copied!")

In this example, the file file.txt is copied to a new location and named file_copy.txt while showing a progress bar on the console with percentage completion.

In conclusion, shutil.copy() is a simple and powerful function that can be used to copy files and directories in Python. With the examples provided in this article, you should be able
Copying with Error Handling

It is important to handle errors when working with file operations, as they can occur due to various reasons such as permissions, disk errors, and file existence. shutil.copy() has a built-in mechanism to handle errors, but it is also possible to use try-except blocks for more specific error handling. Here's an example:

import shutil

# Source file
src = "file.txt"

# Destination file
dst = "file_copy.txt"

try:
    shutil.copy(src, dst)
    print("File copied successfully.")
except shutil.Error as e:
    print("Error: %s" % e)
except IOError as e:
    print("Error: %s" % e.strerror)

In this example, the shutil.Error exception is caught and handled to display a message if the copy operation fails. The IOError exception is also caught and handled to display the reason for the error.

Overwriting Existing Files

By default, shutil.copy() will raise an error if the destination file already exists. To overwrite the existing file, you can use the shutil.copy2() function with the dst parameter set to a file that already exists. Here's an example:

import shutil

# Source file
src = "file.txt"

# Destination file
dst = "file_copy.txt"

# Overwrite the existing file
shutil.copy2(src, dst, follow_symlinks=False)

In this example, the file file.txt is copied to file_copy.txt and overwrite it if it already exists.

Copying Symbolic Links

shutil.copy() can also be used to copy symbolic links. By default, the function follows the link and copies the file or directory it points to. However, it is also possible to copy the link itself. Here's an example:

import shutil

# Source symbolic link
src = "link.txt"

# Destination symbolic link
dst = "link_copy.txt"

# Copy the symbolic link
shutil.copy(src, dst, follow_symlinks=False)

In this example, the symbolic link link.txt is copied to link_copy.txt and the original link is preserved.

In addition to all the above, shutil also provides other useful functions for handling files and directories, such as shutil.move() for moving and renaming files and directories, shutil.rmtree() for removing a directory and all its contents, and shutil.chown() for changing the ownership of a file or directory.

Popular questions

1. What is shutil.copy() used for in Python?

• shutil.copy() is a built-in Python function that is used to copy a file from a source location to a destination location.

2. How do you overwrite an existing file using shutil.copy()?

• To overwrite an existing file using shutil.copy(), you can use the shutil.copy2() function with the dst parameter set to a file that already exists.

3. How do you copy a symbolic link using shutil.copy()?

• To copy a symbolic link using shutil.copy(), you can set the follow_symlinks parameter to False. This will copy the link itself instead of the file or directory it points to.

4. How do you handle errors when using shutil.copy()?

• You can handle errors when using shutil.copy() by using a try-except block and catching specific exceptions such as shutil.Error and IOError.

5. Are there any other useful functions provided by shutil for handling files and directories?

• Yes, shutil provides other useful functions for handling files and directories such as shutil.move() for moving and renaming files and directories, shutil.rmtree() for removing a directory and all its contents, and shutil.chown() for changing the ownership of a file or directory.

Tag

FileManagement