How to Extract the File Extension using Python

Here are 3 ways to extract the file extension using Python:

(1) Extract the file extension with the dot:

import os.path

file_path = r"path where the file is stored\file_name.file_extension"

file_extension = os.path.splitext(file_path)[1]

print(file_extension)

(2) Extract the file extension without the dot:

import os.path

file_path = r"path where the file is stored\file_name.file_extension"

file_extension = os.path.splitext(file_path)[1][1:]

print(file_extension)

(3) Extract both the root and the file extension:

import os.path

file_path = r"path where the file is stored\file_name.file_extension"

file_extension = os.path.splitext(file_path)

print(file_extension)

3 Scenarios to Extract the File Extension using Python

Scenario 1: Extract the file extension with the dot

Under the first scenario, you’ll observe how to extract the file extension with the dot.

To start with a simple example, let’s suppose that a text file (called ‘products‘) is stored under the following path:

To extract the file extension with the dot using Python:

import os.path

file_path = r"C:\Users\Ron\Desktop\Test\products.txt"

file_extension = os.path.splitext(file_path)[1]

print(file_extension)

The file extension is “.txt” with the dot:

.txt

Scenario 2: Extract the file extension without the dot

To extract the file extension without the dot:

import os.path

file_path = r"C:\Users\Ron\Desktop\Test\products.txt"

file_extension = os.path.splitext(file_path)[1][1:]

print(file_extension)

The file extension is now “txt” without the dot:

txt

Scenario 3: Extract both the root and the file extension

To extract both the root and the file extension:

import os.path

file_path = r"C:\Users\Ron\Desktop\Test\products.txt"

file_extension = os.path.splitext(file_path)

print(file_extension)

The result:

('C:\\Users\\Ron\\Desktop\\Test\\products', '.txt')

Finally, you may check the os.path Documentation to learn more about os.path.splitext.