Programming

List files in a directory with Python (os.listdir, pathlib)

List files in a directory with Python. Examples use os.listdir, pathlib, glob, and os.scandir. Store results in a list, filter by extension, and recurse.

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How can I list all files in a directory using Python and store them in a list?

To list all files in a directory using Python, grab the built-in os module and use os.listdir(path)—it spits out a list of filenames right away, like files = os.listdir('.') for the current folder. For a more object-oriented vibe, pathlib shines: files = [p.name for p in Path('your_dir').iterdir()]. Both methods store everything in a handy list you can sort, filter, or loop over instantly.

Contents

Using os.listdir to List Files

Ever needed a quick dump of everything in a folder? os.listdir is your go-to classic from Python’s standard library. Pass it a path string—empty for current dir, or something like '/home/user/docs'—and it returns a list of strings with all entries (files and subdirs).

python
import os

# Current directory
files = os.listdir('.')
print(files) # ['script.py', 'data.txt', 'subdir/']

# Specific path
files = os.listdir('/path/to/dir')

Boom, stored in files as a list. But heads up: this includes directories too, and paths are relative to the target folder. Want just files? Check os.path.isfile in a list comp:

python
files_only = [f for f in os.listdir('.') if os.path.isfile(f)]

It’s fast for shallow lists, cross-platform (works on Windows, Linux, macOS), and zero dependencies. Searches for “python os listdir” spike because it’s dead simple—no wonder it’s a staple.

Modern Way with pathlib

Python 3.4+ folks, meet pathlib. Ditch string juggling for Path objects—they’re smarter, chainable, and feel natural. Path.iterdir() yields paths you can collect into a list.

python
from pathlib import Path

dir_path = Path('/path/to/dir') # Or Path('.') for current
files = [p.name for p in dir_path.iterdir()]
print(files)

Or snag full paths:

python
all_paths = list(dir_path.iterdir())
file_paths = [p for p in all_paths if p.is_file()]
names = [p.name for p in file_paths]

Why switch? Path handles joins (dir_path / 'file.txt'), checks (p.exists()), and even resolves symlinks. It’s what I’d pick for new code—less error-prone than os.path hacks.

Advanced Options: glob and os.scandir

os.listdir great for basics, but patterns or efficiency? Step up.

glob.glob matches wildcards, perfect for “*.txt”:

python
import glob

txt_files = glob.glob('/path/to/dir/*.txt')
# Stores absolute paths in list

Recursive? **/*:

python
all_py = glob.glob('/project/**/*.py', recursive=True)

os.scandir (Python 3.5+) is faster—lazy iteration with stat info baked in, no extra os.stat calls.

python
with os.scandir('/path/to/dir') as entries:
 files = [entry.name for entry in entries if entry.is_file()]

Use it for big dirs; benchmarks show 2-10x speedups over listdir.

Filtering and Edge Cases

Got picky? Filter by extension, skip hidden files (those dotfiles), or recurse.

Extensions:

python
from pathlib import Path
jpgs = [p for p in Path('.').iterdir() if p.suffix == '.jpg']

No hidden:

python
visible_files = [f for f in os.listdir('.') if not f.startswith('.')]

Subdirs? os.walk for recursion:

python
all_files = []
for root, dirs, files in os.walk('/start/dir'):
 all_files.extend(os.path.join(root, f) for f in files)

Permissions snag you? Wrap in try-except:

python
try:
 files = os.listdir('/protected')
except PermissionError:
 print("Access denied!")

Windows backslashes? pathlib or os.path.normpath sorts it. Current date tip: Python 3.13 (out now in 2026) tweaks scandir perf even more.

Full Working Examples

Script to list, sort, and save:

python
import os
from pathlib import Path

def list_files(path='.'):
 p = Path(path)
 return sorted(p.name for p in p.iterdir() if p.is_file())

files = list_files('/your/dir')
print(files)

# Save to file
with open('filelist.txt', 'w') as f:
 f.write('\n'.join(files))

Run it—tweaks for your needs. Test locally; edge cases like empty dirs return [].

Sources

  1. Yandex Wordstat - python список файлов
  2. Yandex Wordstat - python директория
  3. Yandex Wordstat - python os listdir
  4. Yandex Wordstat - python получить файлы

Conclusion

Listing files boils down to os.listdir for speed or pathlib for elegance—both dump into lists ready for action. Pick based on your Python version and needs: filter with list comps, recurse via walk, and handle quirks like permissions. You’ll handle any “list files in a directory” task like a pro, no sweat.

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List files in a directory with Python (os.listdir, pathlib)