How to copy a File and Rename?

Python - Copy File

To copy a file from one location to another in Python, import shutil library, call shutil.copy(source, target) function.

shutil.copy() copies the source file to the file path specified by target. The syntax to use shutil.copy() function is

import shutil

shutil.copy(source, target)

where source and target are absolute, or relative file paths.

To preserve the meta information of the original file, we can use shutil.copy2() function. shutil.copy2() copies the source file to the file path specified by target.

shutil.copy2(source, target)

Examples

1. Copy File

In the following example, we will copy the file at location myfolder/sample.txt to myfolder/sample_2.txt.

Original File

Python Program

import shutil

source = 'myfolder/sample.txt'
target = 'myfolder/sample_2.txt'

try :
	shutil.copy(source, target)
	print('File copied successfully.')
except:
	print('Could not copy file.')
	print('An exception occurred.')

Output

File copied successfully.

Copied File

2. Copy File with original Meta preserved

In the following example, we will copy the file at location a/b/sample.txt to c/d/sample.txt with the meta of the copied file same as the original file.

Original File

Python Program

import shutil

source = 'myfolder/sample.txt'
target = 'myfolder/sample_2.txt'

try :
	shutil.copy(source, target)
	print('File copied successfully.')
except:
	print('Could not copy file.')
	print('An exception occurred.')

Output

File copied successfully.

Copied File

You may observe that the Date Modified is same as original file, since the meta of the original file is preserved while copying.

Summary

In this tutorial of Python Examples, we learned how to copy a file using shutil.copy() or shutil.copy2() function.