Use pathlib.Path to turn a string into a path object: Path("some/folder/file.txt"). It is the standard choice for paths used with the local filesystem, and Python selects the appropriate concrete path type for the operating system running your code. Python’s pathlib documentation recommends Path for the usual case.
Convert a string to a path with pathlib
Import Path from pathlib, then pass the path string to its constructor:
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from pathlib import Path
path = Path("some/folder/file.txt")The result is a Path object, not a plain string. You can use it with path-aware APIs and methods, for example:
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path = Path("data") / "input.csv"
print(path.name) # input.csvPython’s pathlib documentation says, “If you’ve never used this module before or just aren’t sure which class is right for you, Path is most likely what you need.”
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When you need a string instead of a Path object
Most APIs that accept filesystem paths can accept a Path directly through Python’s os.PathLike protocol. If an API specifically requires a string, use str(path). To obtain the filesystem representation through the path protocol, use os.fspath(path):
import os
from pathlib import Path
path = Path("some/folder/file.txt")
plain_string = str(path)
filesystem_string = os.fspath(path)The string representation uses the platform’s native path form, including its separators. See the pathlib documentation for details.
Choose the right path class
Path: Use for ordinary local-filesystem paths. It selects the concrete path class for the current platform and provides filesystem I/O operations.PurePath: Use when you need path operations without filesystem I/O; it uses the path flavor of the current system.PureWindowsPathorPurePosixPath: Use to manipulate Windows or POSIX path syntax regardless of the operating system running your code. Pure paths do not access the filesystem. A concreteWindowsPathcannot be instantiated on a non-Windows system.os.path: Use for string-oriented, lower-level operations or when continuing an existing codebase’s style. Its functions accept strings, bytes, andos.PathLikeobjects; the default implementation follows the host platform.
For the documented behavior of path flavors, see pathlib; for os.path inputs and platform selection, see os.path.
Join path segments without assuming the result stays under a base
With pathlib, append a segment using the / operator or joinpath():
from pathlib import Path
base = Path("data")
file_path = base / "input.csv"A later absolute segment can replace the earlier path instead of being appended. Windows rooted-relative segments also have drive-specific behavior. If a segment comes from external or otherwise unexpected input, joining alone does not guarantee that the final path remains beneath a trusted directory. Check the resulting path against your application’s security and containment requirements. The pathlib documentation describes these joining rules.
Creating a Path does not check whether a file exists
Path("some/folder/file.txt") constructs a path object; it does not establish that a file or directory with that name exists. If existence matters, check it explicitly:
if path.exists():
print("The path exists")Use resolve() only when you intend to resolve or canonicalize the path. Resolution can depend on filesystem state and platform-specific link behavior. See the pathlib reference for the method’s behavior.
Use os.path when string-oriented functions fit your code
os.path is a valid alternative to pathlib, particularly in code that already uses its functions. It provides operations on path values rather than methods on path objects, and its default behavior is selected for the host operating system. The Python os.path documentation covers accepted path-like inputs and available functions. For new, ordinary filesystem paths, Path is the simpler default.
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