shutil.rmtree() clarification

python python-2.7 shutil
IT Ninja picture IT Ninja · Jun 3, 2012 · Viewed 70.5k times · Source

I have read the documentation for this function, however, I dont think I understand it properly. If anyone can tell me what I'm missing, or if I am correct, it would be a great help. Here is my understanding:

using the shutil.rmtree(path) function, it will delete only the directory specified, not the entire path. IE:

shutil.rmtree('user/tester/noob')

using this, it would only delete the 'noob' directory correct? not the complete path?

Answer

Rich Walsh picture Rich Walsh · Jun 3, 2012

If noob is a directory, the shutil.rmtree() function will delete noob and all files and subdirectories below it. That is, noob is the root of the tree to be removed.

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