Use Path.is_dir() to check whether a path points to a directory. It returns False for a missing path or a path to a regular file, unlike Path.exists(), which can be true for either. If your code already uses os.path, use os.path.isdir() instead.
Check a directory with pathlib
pathlib is a clear choice for modern Python code, especially when you already work with Path objects:
from pathlib import Path
folder = Path("/path/to/check")
if folder.is_dir():
print("Directory exists")
else:
print("Directory does not exist")Path.is_dir() asks whether the path points to a directory, not merely whether an entry exists at that path. The Python 3.12 pathlib documentation says it returns true for a directory or a symbolic link pointing to one, and false for another kind of file.
Use os.path.isdir() in os.path-based code
If the surrounding code uses string paths and os.path helpers, os.path.isdir() provides the same directory-specific check:
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import os
folder = "/path/to/check"
if os.path.isdir(folder):
print("Directory exists")
else:
print("Directory does not exist")Python documents os.path.isdir() as checking whether a path is an existing directory. It follows symbolic links. Path-like objects have been accepted since Python 3.6.
Choose the check that fits your code
| Check | Best fit | What it checks | Symbolic links |
|---|---|---|---|
Path(path).is_dir() |
Code using pathlib or Path objects |
Whether the path points to a directory | Follows the link to its target by default |
os.path.isdir(path) |
Code already using os.path or string-based path helpers |
Whether the path points to an existing directory | Follows the link to its target |
Both are standard-library options; the surrounding path-handling style is usually the simplest deciding factor. Neither should be confused with a general existence check.
Why Path.exists() is not enough
Path.exists() returns true if a file or directory exists at the path. It does not establish that the entry is a directory. Use is_dir() when the type matters:
path = Path("/path/to/check")
if path.exists():
print("Something exists here")
if path.is_dir():
print("It is a directory")Symlinks, missing paths, and error behavior
Symbolic links
Both common checks follow symbolic links by default. A symlink to a directory passes; a broken symlink does not. The follow_symlinks option for Path.is_dir() was added in Python 3.13, so do not rely on that option when supporting earlier versions. See the versioned Python 3.12 pathlib reference for the documented default behavior.
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A missing path, a broken symlink, or a path to another file type does not pass the directory check. In the Python 3.12 documentation, Path.is_dir() returns false for these cases.
Inaccessible paths and Python version differences
Error handling depends on the Python version. The Python 3.12 documentation says errors other than the ordinary non-directory cases, including permission errors, can propagate. The Python 3.15 prerelease documentation records a change made in Python 3.14: pathlib status checks return false for invalid, inaccessible, or missing paths instead of raising OSError. If your program needs to tell an inaccessible path from a missing one, inspect it with Path.stat() and handle the relevant errors explicitly.
Quick Recap
Practical choice
- Use
Path(path).is_dir()forpathlib-based code and modern path composition. - Use
os.path.isdir(path)when it fits the helpers already used in your codebase. - Use
Path.exists()only when you need to know whether some filesystem entry exists, regardless of whether it is a file or directory. - Account for your supported Python versions if inaccessible paths must be distinguished from missing ones.
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