Python os.path.basename() Method

1. Syntax of Python os.path.basename() Method
2. Example 1: Use the os.path.basename() Method in Python
3. Example 2: Extract a File Name Using the os.path.basename() Method
4. Example 3: Use os.path.dirname() With the os.path.basename() Method
5. Example 4: Set Path Address as Empty in the os.path.basename() Method

Python os.path.basename() method is the most efficient way of finding the basename of a specified path. This method uses the os.path.split() method to first split the path address into a pair of head and tail, then display the tail part.

Syntax of Python os.path.basename() Method

os.path.basename(path)

Parameters

Return

This method’s return type is a path string containing the file’s absolute address.

Example 1: Use the os.path.basename() Method in Python

import os

path = "/home///user/Documents"

normalize = os.path.basename(path)

print(normalize)

path = "/home/./Desktop"

normalize = os.path.basename(path)

print(normalize)

Output:

Documents
Desktop

The os.path.basename() is a simple method to interact with the operating system and retrieve the base name of any specific file.

Example 2: Extract a File Name Using the os.path.basename() Method

import os

path = "/home/user/temp/../Downloads/File.txt"

normalize = os.path.basename(path)

print(normalize)

Output:

File.txt

Note that the os.path.basename result is not similar to the value returned from the Unix basename program.

Example 3: Use os.path.dirname() With the os.path.basename() Method

import os

path = "home/user/File.txt"

head = os.path.dirname(path)

tail = os.path.basename(path)

rejoin = head + tail

print("The head of the path '%s': " % path, head)

print("The tail of the path '%s': " % path, tail)

print("The full path address is: ", rejoin)

Output:

The head of the path 'home/user/File.txt':  home/user
The tail of the path 'home/user/File.txt':  File.txt
The full path address is:  home/userFile.txt

If we use the os.path.split() method to split the path, then the head part is the same value returned by the os.path.dirname.

Example 4: Set Path Address as Empty in the os.path.basename() Method

import os

address = ""

directory = os.path.basename(address)

print(directory)

Output:

The os.path.basename() doesn’t return anything as no path address is specified.