os.listdir

Get the names of the files and directories inside a directory.

Python 3.13
os.listdir(path='.')

Parameters

pathstr | PathLikeoptional: The path to the directory; the current one by default.

Return value

A list of names without the directory path; the order is not guaranteed.

Examples

Files in a directory

Python 3.13
import os
os.makedirs('demo', exist_ok=True)
for name in ['b.txt', 'a.txt']:
    open(os.path.join('demo', name), 'w').close()
print(sorted(os.listdir('demo')))
['a.txt', 'b.txt']

Only files with the .txt extension

Python 3.13
import os
os.makedirs('data', exist_ok=True)
for name in ['report.txt', 'photo.png', 'notes.txt']:
    open(os.path.join('data', name), 'w').close()
print(sorted(name for name in os.listdir('data') if name.endswith('.txt')))
['notes.txt', 'report.txt']

Details

The special entries . and .. are not included. Raises FileNotFoundError if the directory does not exist.