Python: Delete File If Exists - Pathlib One-Liner

The most Pythonic way to python delete file if it exists is Path(filename).unlink(missing_ok=True) using pathlib. This beats the old if os.path.exists(filename): os.remove(filename) pattern—it’s shorter, safer from race conditions, and handles missing files without fuss (Python 3.8+). For older versions, wrap os.remove() in a try/except FileNotFoundError: pass.

Contents

• Why Avoid os.path.exists() + os.remove()
• The Pathlib One-Liner for Python Delete File
• Safe os.remove() for Older Python Versions
• Real-World Examples and Edge Cases
• Sources
• Conclusion

Why Avoid os.path.exists() + os.remove()

You might think checking os.path.exists(filename) before os.remove(filename) is bulletproof. But here’s the catch: it’s not. Between the check and the delete, another process could snag the file—classic TOCTOU (time-of-check-to-time-of-use) race condition. Suddenly, boom: OSError or worse.

Real Python folks call this out clearly: that two-step dance is verbose and risky in concurrent setups. Stack Overflow threads echo it too—threads where devs share war stories of production fails. And why bother with two lines when Python offers elegance?

Stick around. Better ways exist that are atomic and concise.

The Pathlib One-Liner for Python Delete File

Enter pathlib, Python’s object-oriented file path powerhouse. The killer feature? Path.unlink(missing_ok=True). One line. Deletes if there, shrugs if not. No exceptions, no races.

from pathlib import Path

Path("myfile.txt").unlink(missing_ok=True)

The official Python docs spell it out: missing_ok=True (since 3.8) suppresses FileNotFoundError. Pure Pythonic bliss—EAFP (easier to ask forgiveness than permission) in action. GeeksforGeeks nails why it’s top dog: concise, handles symlinks gracefully, beats os remove hands down.

But what if you’re stuck on Python 3.7 or earlier? No sweat—next section’s got you.

Safe os.remove() for Older Python Versions

Can’t upgrade? Ditch the exists check entirely. Use a try-except shield around os remove:

import os

try:
 os.remove("myfile.txt")
except FileNotFoundError:
 pass

This mimics pathlib’s magic. Catches only the missing-file error, lets others (like permissions) bubble up as warnings. Stack Overflow’s top answer pushes this for pre-3.8 life—simple, no races.

Or, if you’re feeling pathlib anyway (it works back to 3.4, just without missing_ok):

from pathlib import Path

try:
 Path("myfile.txt").unlink()
except FileNotFoundError:
 pass

Either way, you’re golden. Far snappier than the if-exists clunker.

Real-World Examples and Edge Cases

Let’s code it up. Say you’re cleaning temp files in a script:

from pathlib import Path
import os

files = ["temp1.log", "temp2.log", "missing.log"]

for f in files:
 # Pythonic way (3.8+)
 Path(f).unlink(missing_ok=True)
 
 # Or legacy-safe os.remove
 # try: os.remove(f) except FileNotFoundError: pass

Directories? Nope—unlink (or os.remove) barfs with IsADirectoryError. Use rmdir or Path.rmdir(missing_ok=True) instead.

Permissions denied? Expect PermissionError. Symlinks? They vanish, target stays. Concurrent access? Pathlib and try-except stay atomic where exists+remove flops.

Tested this in a loop—handles Windows paths, Unicode filenames, no hiccups. Pro tip: log exceptions if debugging matters.

Quick FAQ: One-liner without pathlib? That try-except os.remove is as close as it gets. Atomic on Unix? Mostly, but NFS can bite.

Sources

1. Stack Overflow - Python: Delete file if path exists
2. Python Documentation - pathlib (Path.unlink)
3. Real Python - Working with pathlib in Python
4. GeeksforGeeks - Python: Delete a File or Directory

Conclusion

For python delete file if it exists, grab Path.unlink(missing_ok=True)—it’s the gold standard, ditching race-prone os.path.exists() + os remove for good. Older Python? Try-except saves the day. Cleaner code, fewer headaches. Upgrade if you can; your future self will thank you.