API · Python
Python os.system() Method
The os.system() is an in-built Python function used to execute the program.
Python os.system() method is an efficient way of executing a string command in a subshell. The os.system() is implemented by calling the standard C function system() and has the same limitations.
Syntax of Python os.system() Method
os.system(command)
Parameters
command |
It is a string telling which command to execute. |
Return
The return type of this method depends on the OS. For example, on a Unix system, the return value is the exit status of the completed process.
On Windows OS, the return value is the value returned by the system command shell.
Example 1: Use the os.system() Method to Get Current Date of Computer
import os
command = "date"
os.system(command)
Output:
UNIX:
Fri 19 Aug 2022 11:48:48 AM UTC
Windows OS:
The current date is: Fri 08/19/2022
While using this method, if the input command generates any output, it is directly sent to the interpreter as a standard output stream.
Example 2: Use the os.system() Method to Create a New Notepad Text File
import os
command = "notepad"
os.system(command)
Output:
On any Unix system, we can use the waitstatus_to_exitcode() to convert the exit status into an exit code (0).
Example 3: Use the os.system() Method and Its Alternative to Display Text
import os
os.system("echo Hello, World!")
string = "Hello, World!"
print(string)
Output:
Hello, World!
Hello, World!
We use the echo command to print the output on our stdout stream.
Example 4: Use the os.system() Method to Clear the Screen
import os
# for use on UNIX
os.system("clear")
# for use on Windows OS
os.system("cls")
Output:
UNIX:
Windows OS:0
Using the os.system() method instead of the standard OS compiler will result in slower process execution.
