/ operator
- Python course
- Intermediate
- Lesson 77/116
- 4 min
Learn path joining with Path / 'sub'.
Joining paths with the slash
The most elegant feature of pathlib is the / operator. You can join two Path objects or a Path with a string using /: Path("folder") / "sub" / "file.txt". This replaces os.path.join.
The operator is platform-independent: it joins with a forward slash on Linux and a backslash on Windows. You write the same code on both systems. It's more readable than using strings for path joining and reduces the risk of mistakes.
Multiple joins
You can use several / in one expression: Path("a") / "b" / "c" / "d.txt". The operation goes left to right; each step produces a new Path object.
This is especially handy for structural folder hierarchies: project / "src" / "utils" / "helper.py". The old approach was os.path.join("a", "b", "c"); the / operator is far more readable.
Practice Join three parts and print the name
Start with from pathlib import Path. Join three parts with p = Path("projects") / "web" / "report.pdf". Print the filename with print(p.name).
Starter code
# Import the Path class
# Join three parts with /
# Print the filenameSample solution
# Import the Path class
from pathlib import Path
# Join three parts with /
p = Path("projects") / "web" / "report.pdf"
# Print the filename
print(p.name)Expected output
report.pdf
Questions and answers
Review the lesson questions together with their answers. To test yourself, solve the lesson interactively.
1 Join with the slash operator
from pathlib import Path
p = Path("docs")____ "sub"
print(p)from pathlib import Path
p = Path("docs")/ "sub"
print(p)Explanation: The / operator joins paths.
2 What is the result of Path("a") / "b"?
- The string "a/b"
- A list
- A new Path object Correct answer
- An error is raised
Explanation: The / operator returns a Path object again, suitable for chaining.
3 Match the path-joining concepts
| Term | Meaning |
|---|---|
/ |
Path-joining operator |
Path |
Path object class |
name |
Filename attribute |
parent |
Parent folder attribute |