Python Tips: How to Get File Size in Python

Getting the File Size using Python

Python is a popular programming language that offers a wide range of functionalities and is used in different applications. One of its most useful features is the ability to get the file size of a file using Python.

This function helps programmers analyze data and optimize their application’s performance. This article will cover two ways to get the file size using Python, as well as the optional method of converting the file size to different units.

Using the “os” Library to Get File Size

The first method of getting the file size using Python involves capturing the file path and using the built-in “os.path.getsize()” method to get the file size in bytes. This method is simple to implement, and it returns accurate results.

For example, suppose you have a file named “example.txt” saved in a folder on your computer. To get the file size in bytes using Python, you would first import the “os” library and capture the file path as shown below:

import os
file_path = "C:/Users/User/Documents/Python/example.txt" #Replace with your file path

After capturing the file path, you can use the “os.path.getsize()” method to get the file size in bytes, as follows:

file_size_bytes = os.path.getsize(file_path)
print(f"File Size in Bytes: {file_size_bytes}")

Running the above code would return the file size in bytes. However, file sizes are often measured in larger units, such as kilobytes (KB), megabytes (MB), or gigabytes (GB).

Optional: Getting the File Size in Different Units

You can convert the file size obtained in bytes to different units using Python. For instance, you can convert it to kilobytes, megabytes, or gigabytes depending on your preference.

To do this, you divide the file size by a specific value. For example, to get the file size in kilobytes, you divide the file size in bytes by 1024.

Similarly, to get the size in megabytes, you divide the file size in kilobytes by 1024, and to get the size in gigabytes, you divide the file size in megabytes by 1024. Below is an example implementation of converting the file size to different units:

file_size_bytes = os.path.getsize(file_path)
file_size_kb = file_size_bytes/1024
file_size_mb = file_size_kb/1024
file_size_gb = file_size_mb/1024
print(f"File Size in Bytes: {file_size_bytes}")
print(f"File Size in Kilobytes: {file_size_kb:.2f} KB")
print(f"File Size in Megabytes: {file_size_mb:.2f} MB")
print(f"File Size in Gigabytes: {file_size_gb:.2f} GB")

Using Pathlib Library to Get File Size

Another way to get the file size using Python is by using the Pathlib library. Pathlib is a more modern library and considered more user-friendly than the built-in “os” library.

To use the Pathlib library, you need first to install it by running the following command in the command prompt:

pip install pathlib

After installing the Pathlib library, you can import it to your code and capture the file path. Below is an example implementation of getting the file size using Pathlib:

from pathlib import Path
file_path = Path("C:/Users/User/Documents/Python/example.txt") #Replace with your file path
file_size_bytes = file_path.stat().st_size
print(f"File Size in Bytes: {file_size_bytes}")

In the above code, we first import the Path library from the pathlib module and then capture the file path using the “Path()” method. Next, we use the “stat()” method to get the file statistics, and the “st_size” attribute to get the file size in bytes.

Optional: Getting the File Size In Different Units Using Pathlib Library

Just like with the previous method, you can also convert the file size obtained in bytes using Pathlib to different units. Here’s an example implementation:

from pathlib import Path
file_path = Path("C:/Users/User/Documents/Python/example.txt") #Replace with your file path
file_size_bytes = file_path.stat().st_size
file_size_kb = file_size_bytes/1024
file_size_mb = file_size_kb/1024
file_size_gb = file_size_mb/1024
print(f"File Size in Bytes: {file_size_bytes}")
print(f"File Size in Kilobytes: {file_size_kb:.2f} KB")
print(f"File Size in Megabytes: {file_size_mb:.2f} MB")
print(f"File Size in Gigabytes: {file_size_gb:.2f} GB")

Conclusion

In conclusion, Python offers an efficient and straightforward way to get the file size of a file. The two methods described in this article – using the built-in “os” library and the Pathlib library – provide programmers with different options for achieving the same functionality.

Both methods are easy to implement and offer accurate results. Additionally, the optional method of converting the file size obtained into different units is useful for programmers who need to analyze and process large datasets.