mkdir -p functionality in Python [duplicate]

Question

This question already has an answer here:

• How can I safely create a nested directory in Python? 25 answers

Is there a way to get functionality similar to mkdir -p on the shell from within Python. I am looking for a solution other than a system call. I am sure the code is less than 20 lines, and I am wondering if someone has already written it?

Answer 1

I think Asa's answer is essentially correct, but you could extend it a little to act more like mkdir -p, either:

import os

def mkdir_path(path):
    if not os.access(path, os.F_OK):
        os.mkdirs(path)

or

import os
import errno

def mkdir_path(path):
    try:
        os.mkdirs(path)
    except os.error, e:
        if e.errno != errno.EEXIST:
            raise

These both handle the case where the path already exists silently but let other errors bubble up.

Answer 2

I've had success with the following personally, but my function should probably be called something like 'ensure this directory exists':

def mkdirRecursive(dirpath):
    import os
    if os.path.isdir(dirpath): return

    h,t = os.path.split(dirpath) # head/tail
    if not os.path.isdir(h):
        mkdirRecursive(h)

    os.mkdir(join(h,t))
# end mkdirRecursive

Answer 3

This is easier than trapping the exception:

import os
if not os.path.exists(...):
    os.makedirs(...)

Disclaimer This approach requires two system calls which is more susceptible to race conditions under certain environments/conditions. If you're writing something more sophisticated than a simple throwaway script running in a controlled environment, you're better off going with the accepted answer that requires only one system call.

UPDATE 2012-07-27

I'm tempted to delete this answer, but I think there's value in the comment thread below. As such, I'm converting it to a wiki.

Answer 4

In Python >=3.2, that's

os.makedirs(path, exist_ok=True)

In earlier versions, use @tzot's answer.

Answer 5

import os
from os.path import join as join_paths

def mk_dir_recursive(dir_path):

    if os.path.isdir(dir_path):
        return
    h, t = os.path.split(dir_path)  # head/tail
    if not os.path.isdir(h):
        mk_dir_recursive(h)

    new_path = join_paths(h, t)
    if not os.path.isdir(new_path):
        os.mkdir(new_path)

based on @Dave C's answer but with a bug fixed where part of the tree already exists

Answer 6

mkdir -p functionality as follows:

import errno    
import os


def mkdir_p(path):
    try:
        os.makedirs(path)
    except OSError as exc:  # Python >2.5
        if exc.errno == errno.EEXIST and os.path.isdir(path):
            pass
        else:
            raise

Update

For Python ≥ 3.2, os.makedirs has an optional third argument exist_ok that, when true, enables the mkdir -p functionality —unless mode is provided and the existing directory has different permissions than the intended ones; in that case, OSError is raised as previously.

Update 2

For Python ≥ 3.5, there is also pathlib.Path.mkdir:

import pathlib

pathlib.Path("/tmp/path/to/desired/directory").mkdir(parents=True, exist_ok=True)

The exist_ok parameter was added in Python 3.5.