Python os.path.normpath() Method

1. Syntax of the os.path.normpath() Method
2. Example 1: Working With the os.path.normpath() Method in Python
3. Example 2: Use the os.path.normpath() Method on Windows OS
4. Example 3: Two First Slashes // in the os.path.normpath() Method in Python

Python os.path.normpath() method is the most efficient way of normalizing a specified path. Path normalization includes collapsing all redundant separators, such as backslash, period, and up-level references in a path address.

Syntax of the os.path.normpath() Method

os.path.normpath(path)

Parameters

Return

The return type of this method is a string value. A path string containing the normalized address of a file is returned.

Example 1: Working With the os.path.normpath() Method in Python

import os

path = '/home///user/Documents'

normalize = os.path.normpath(path)

print(normalize)

path = '/home/./Documents'

normalize = os.path.normpath(path)

print(normalize)

path = '/home/user/temp/../Documents'

normalize = os.path.normpath(path)

print(normalize)

Output:

/home/user/Documents
/home/Documents
/home/user/Documents

The os.path.normpath() converts A//B, A/B/, A/./B and A/home/../B all to A/B.

Example 2: Use the os.path.normpath() Method on Windows OS

import os

path = r'C:/Users'

normalize = os.path.normpath(path)

print(normalize)

path = r'C:\Users\.\Documents'

normalize = os.path.normpath(path)

print(normalize)

path = r'C:\Users\admin\temp\..\Documents'

normalize = os.path.normpath(path)

print(normalize)

Output:

C:\Users
C:\Users\.\Documents
C:\Users\admin\temp\..\Documents

On Windows, this method converts forward slashes to backward slashes.

Example 3: Two First Slashes // in the os.path.normpath() Method in Python

import os

directory=os.path.normpath('//user//Home/')

print(directory)

Output:

//user/Home

The os.path.normpath() eliminates all the double slashes, but in this case, it doesn’t remove them because on Windows, there is a path ambiguity that Python preserves.

//user and /user are fundamentally different paths, so if Python removes the double front slash, it can unknowingly change the directory.