Delete Directory¶

Zero-dependency Python snippets for deleting directories using the standard library.

4 snippets available in this sub-category.

Simple¶

Delete empty directory¶

directory delete rmdir os

Delete an empty directory

import os

os.rmdir("empty_directory")

Notes

Only works for empty directories
Raises OSError if directory is not empty
Raises OSError if directory doesn't exist

Delete empty directory safely¶

directory delete rmdir error-handling os

Delete empty directory with error handling

import os

try:
    os.rmdir("empty_directory")
    print("Directory deleted successfully")
except FileNotFoundError:
    print("Directory does not exist")
except OSError as e:
    print(f"Error deleting directory: {e}")

Notes

Handles case where directory doesn't exist
Handles case where directory is not empty
Provides clear error messages
Safe for scripts

Complex¶

Delete directory if empty¶

directory delete empty check rmdir os

Delete directory only if it's empty

import os


def delete_directory_if_empty(directory):
    """Delete directory only if it's empty."""
    if not os.path.exists(directory):
        print(f"Directory '{directory}' does not exist")
        return False

    if not os.path.isdir(directory):
        print(f"'{directory}' is not a directory")
        return False

    try:
        # Check if directory is empty
        if not os.listdir(directory):
            os.rmdir(directory)
            print(f"Deleted empty directory: {directory}")
            return True
        else:
            print(f"Directory '{directory}' is not empty")
            return False
    except OSError as e:
        print(f"Error deleting directory '{directory}': {e}")
        return False


delete_directory_if_empty("my_directory")

Notes

Checks if directory is empty before deleting
Validates directory existence and type
Returns success/failure status
Useful for cleanup operations

Delete directory with confirmation¶

directory delete confirmation empty rmdir os

Delete empty directory with user confirmation

import os


def delete_directory_with_confirmation(directory):
    """Delete empty directory with user confirmation."""
    if not os.path.exists(directory):
        print(f"Directory '{directory}' does not exist")
        return False

    if not os.path.isdir(directory):
        print(f"'{directory}' is not a directory")
        return False

    # Check if directory is empty
    contents = os.listdir(directory)
    if contents:
        print(f"Directory '{directory}' contains: {contents}")
        print("Cannot delete non-empty directory")
        return False

    # Ask for confirmation
    response = input(f"Delete empty directory '{directory}'? (y/N): ")
    if response.lower() in ["y", "yes"]:
        try:
            os.rmdir(directory)
            print(f"Deleted directory: {directory}")
            return True
        except OSError as e:
            print(f"Error deleting directory: {e}")
            return False
    else:
        print("Deletion cancelled")
        return False


delete_directory_with_confirmation("temp_directory")

Notes

Shows directory contents if not empty
Asks for user confirmation
Handles all error cases
Safe for important directories

🔗 Cross-References¶

Reference: See 📂 Delete File
Reference: See 📂 Create Directory

🏷️ Tags¶

file, directory, delete, os, remove, io

📝 Notes¶

Use os.rmdir() to delete empty directories
For non-empty directories, use shutil.rmtree()
Useful for cleanup and automation