Difference Between os. rename and shutil. move in Python

Both os. rename and shutil. move are valuable tool in Python for renaming and moving files and directories. The choice between them depends on the complexity of your task and the specific requirements of your file manipulation operation.

When to Use os. rename and shutil.move:

Use of os.rename when:

• You need to perform a basic rename operation within the same directory.
• Atomicity is crucial for your operation.

Use of shutil.move when:

• You need to move files or directories across different filesystems or devices.
• You want to ensure destination directories are automatically created.
• You need to handle the overwriting of existing files.
• You want to preserve file metadata and attributes.

When it comes to renaming or moving files and directories, two commonly used methods are os. rename and shutil. move. While both can serve the purpose of renaming and moving, they have distinct differences in terms of functionality and use cases. In this article, we will explore these differences and when to use each of them.