Files

How to get the current working directory in Python

Quick answer

Path.cwd() returns a Path object. os.getcwd() returns a string — both are equivalent.

from pathlib import Path
print(Path.cwd())            # e.g. /Users/alice/projects/foo

The 'current working directory' is the folder Python was launched from — NOT the folder containing the script. `python foo.py` from /tmp makes cwd='/tmp' regardless of where foo.py lives on disk.

For the DIRECTORY THE SCRIPT LIVES IN, use Path(__file__).parent. This is what you almost always want when opening a config or data file that ships with your code — Path.cwd() breaks the moment someone runs your script from another folder.

Change directory with os.chdir(path). Better yet: pass absolute paths so you never depend on cwd.

Variations

Directory of THIS script

from pathlib import Path
HERE = Path(__file__).parent
data_file = HERE / "data.json"

Portable — works no matter where the script is run from.

os.getcwd (legacy)

import os
print(os.getcwd())

Same value, returned as a string not a Path.

Change directory

import os
os.chdir("/tmp")
print(Path.cwd())  # /tmp

Global side effect — affects the whole process.

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