Python 3 – os.stat_float_times() Method
In Python 3, the os
module provides us with access to many different functions that allow us to work with operating system-related functionality. One of these functions is the os.stat_float_times()
method, which we will be discussing in this article.
Introduction
The os.stat_float_times()
method is used to control how the os.stat()
method operates. The os.stat()
method is used to get information about a file, such as its size, creation and modification dates, and permissions.
When we use the os.stat()
method to get information about a file, the dates that are returned are in the form of integers representing the number of seconds since the epoch (January 1, 1970, 00:00:00 UTC). However, the os.stat_float_times()
method can be used to modify this behavior and cause the os.stat()
method to return dates in floating-point format instead.
This can be useful in situations where we need to express more precise dates, such as when working with scientific data or financial applications. In addition, the os.stat_float_times()
method can also be used to improve performance in some cases.
Syntax
The os.stat_float_times()
method is very simple to use. Here is its syntax:
os.stat_float_times(flag=True)
The flag
parameter is optional and defaults to True
. If set to True
, the os.stat()
method will return dates in floating-point format. If set to False
, the os.stat()
method will return dates in integer format.
Example
Let’s take a look at an example to see how the os.stat_float_times()
method can be used in practice. In this example, we will use the os.stat()
method to get information about a file, and we will compare the results when os.stat_float_times()
is set to True
or False
.
import os
# Get information about a file with os.stat()
file_info = os.stat('example.txt')
# Print the integer-formatted dates
print("Created:", file_info.st_ctime)
print("Modified:", file_info.st_mtime)
# Set os.stat_float_times() to True
os.stat_float_times(True)
# Get the same information again
file_info = os.stat('example.txt')
# Print the floating-point-formatted dates
print("Created:", file_info.st_ctime)
print("Modified:", file_info.st_mtime)
In this example, we first call the os.stat()
method to get information about a file named example.txt
. We then print the creation and modification dates in integer format.
Next, we call the os.stat_float_times()
method and set it to True
. We then call the os.stat()
method again to get the same information about the same file. This time, the creation and modification dates are returned in floating-point format.
Conclusion
In this article, we’ve learned about the os.stat_float_times()
method in Python 3. This method is used to control how the os.stat()
method returns dates, allowing for greater precision and performance in certain situations.
By using this method, we can work with more accurate or specific date information, which is particularly useful in scientific or financial applications. We hope this article has been helpful and informative.