Get the current script file's full directory path in Python
David Y.
—The Problem
How can I access the absolute path of the directory containing the current script file in Python? For example, if my script is /home/user/scripts/runner.py, I would like the output home/user/scripts.
The Solution
We can do this using the special __file__ variable along with Python’s built-in library for filesystem path operations, pathlib. For example:
import pathlib script_directory = pathlib.Path(__file__).parent.resolve() print(script_directory)
The __file__ variable contains the absolute path of the currently executing script. Following the example above, this would be /home/user/scripts/runner.py. Our code creates a Path object from this value and accesses its parent attribute – this will be the script’s containing directory. We then use the resolve method to make it an absolute path.
The final call to resolve() is technically only necessary in Python versions prior to 3.9. Before version 3.9, the __file__ variable could contain either an absolute or relative path to the current script, depending on how it was called. Since 3.9, __file__ will always return an absolute path.
- Sentry BlogPython Performance Testing: A Comprehensive Guide
- Syntax.fmListen to the Syntax Podcast
- Sentry BlogLogging in Python: A Developer’s Guide
- CodecovPython - Codecov
- Listen to the Syntax Podcast
![Syntax.fm logo]()
Tasty treats for web developers brought to you by Sentry. Get tips and tricks from Wes Bos and Scott Tolinski.
SEE EPISODES
Considered “not bad” by 4 million developers and more than 100,000 organizations worldwide, Sentry provides code-level observability to many of the world’s best-known companies like Disney, Peloton, Cloudflare, Eventbrite, Slack, Supercell, and Rockstar Games. Each month we process billions of exceptions from the most popular products on the internet.