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Python | os.access() Method

OS module in Python provides functions for interacting with the operating system. OS, comes under Python’s standard utility modules. This module provides a portable way of using operating system dependent functionality. os.access() method uses the real uid/gid to test for access to path. Most operations uses the effective uid/gid, therefore, this routine can be used in a suid/sgid environment to test if the invoking user has the specified access to path. 

Syntax:

os.access(path, mode)

Parameters:

path: path to be tested for access or existence mode: Should be F_OK to test the existence of path, or can be the inclusive OR of one or more of R_OK, W_OK, and X_OK to test permissions.

Following values can be passed as the mode parameter of access() to test the following:

  • os.F_OK: Tests existence of the path.
  • os.R_OK: Tests readability of the path.
  • os.W_OK: Tests writability of the path.
  • os.X_OK: Checks if path can be executed.

  Returns: True if access is allowed, else returns False. Code #1: Understand access() method 

Python3




# Python program trying to access
# file with different mode parameter
 
# importing all necessary libraries
import os
import sys
 
# Different mode parameters will
# return True if access is allowed,
# else returns False.
 
# Assuming only read operation is allowed on file
# Checking access with os.F_OK
path1 = os.access("gfg.txt", os.F_OK)
print("Exists the path:", path1)
 
# Checking access with os.R_OK
path2 = os.access("gfg.txt", os.R_OK)
print("Access to read the file:", path2)
 
# Checking access with os.W_OK
path3 = os.access("gfg.txt", os.W_OK)
print("Access to write the file:", path3)
 
# Checking access with os.X_OK
path4 = os.access("gfg.txt", os.X_OK)
print("Check if path can be executed:", path4)


Output:

Exists the path: True
Access to read the file: True
Access to write the file: False
Check if path can be executed: False

  Code #2: Code to open a file after validating access is allowed 

Python3




# Python program to open a file
# after validating the access
 
# checking readability of the path
if os.access("gfg.txt", os.R_OK):
     
    # open txt file as file
    with open("gfg.txt") as file:
        return file.read()
         
# in case can't access the file       
return "Facing some issue"


Output:

Facing some issue
Dominic
Dominichttp://wardslaus.com
infosec,malicious & dos attacks generator, boot rom exploit philanthropist , wild hacker , game developer,
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