Python 3 – os.pathconf() Method
In Python programming, os.pathconf() method returns a number of system configuration information about the path name. Specifically, it returns the value of a system limit or option that is applicable to a file or directory with the specified path.
Syntax:
os.pathconf(path, name)
Parameters:
This method accepts two parameters:
- path: The file or directory path to obtain configuration information from.
- name: The option for which the system-wide limit is queried.
Return Value:
It returns a number which specifies the system configuration.
Example:
import os
with open("test.txt", "w") as f:
f.write("Hello World!!!")
print (os.pathconf("test.txt", 'PC_NAME_MAX'))
print (os.pathconf("test.txt", 'PC_PATH_MAX'))
Output:
255
4096
Explanation:
Here, we have imported the os module for accessing the os.pathconf() method. We have created a test file using the open() method, and then passed the same file name and provided two different options (PC_NAME_MAX and PC_PATH_MAX) to get their respective values using the os.pathconf() method.
Let’s look at some commonly used options for os.pathconf() method:
name | description |
---|---|
PC_LINK_MAX | Number of links allowed for a file. |
PC_MAX_CANON | Length of the terminal canonical input queue. |
PC_MAX_INPUT | Length of the terminal input queue. |
PC_NAME_MAX | Maximum length of filenames. |
PC_PATH_MAX | Maximum length of a path. |
PC_PIPE_BUF | Size of the buffer when reading from and writing to a pipe. |
PC_CHOWN_RESTRICTED | Whether chown() is restricted to superusers. |
PC_NO_TRUNC | Whether long names are truncated. |
PC_VDISABLE | The disabling value for terminal special characters. |
Conclusion
The os.pathconf() method is a powerful tool that allows you to retrieve various system configuration information about a file or directory. By specifying options such as PC_NAME_MAX or PC_PATH_MAX, you can get useful information about the maximum length of filenames or paths, respectively. In summary, understanding how to use os.pathconf() method in Python can help you write more efficient and effective code.