Find current directory and file's directory [d

Question

This question already has an answer here:

• How to properly determine current script directory? 13 answers
• How to know/change current directory in Python shell? 6 answers

In Python, what commands can I use to find:

1. the current directory (where I was in the terminal when I ran the Python script), and
2. where the file I am executing is?

Answer 1

For question 1 use os.getcwd() # get working dir and os.chdir(r'D:\Steam\steamapps\common') # set working dir

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I recommend using sys.argv[0] for question 2 because sys.argv is immutable and therefore always returns the current file (module object path) and not affected by os.chdir(). Also you can do like this:

import os
this_py_file = os.path.realpath(__file__)

# vvv Below comes your code vvv #

but that snippet and sys.argv[0] will not work or will work wierd when compiled by PyInstaller because magic properties are not set in __main__ level and sys.argv[0] is the way your exe was called (means that it becomes affected by the working dir).

Answer 2

To Get your working directory in python. You can Use following code:

import os
cwd = os.getcwd() #to get current working directory
print(cwd)

Answer 3

A bit late to the party, but I think the most succinct way to find just the name of your current execution context would be

current_folder_path, current_folder_name = os.path.split(os.getcwd())

Answer 4

In order to see current working directory type following script:

import os
current_working_directory = os.getcwd()

Answer 5

You may find this useful as a reference:

import os

print("Path at terminal when executing this file")
print(os.getcwd() + "\n")

print("This file path, relative to os.getcwd()")
print(__file__ + "\n")

print("This file full path (following symlinks)")
full_path = os.path.realpath(__file__)
print(full_path + "\n")

print("This file directory and name")
path, filename = os.path.split(full_path)
print(path + ' --> ' + filename + "\n")

print("This file directory only")
print(os.path.dirname(full_path))

Answer 6

If you're using Python 3.4, there is the brand new higher-level pathlib module which allows you to conveniently call pathlib.Path.cwd() to get a Path object representing your current working directory, along with many other new features.

More info on this new API can be found here.