Determining file format using Python

Determining file format using Python

To determine the file format of a given file in Python, there are multiple methods you can employ. Here are a few:

  1. Using file extension: This is the simplest method where you check the extension of the file. But remember, this method isn't foolproof, as someone might simply rename a .jpg file to .txt.

    import os filename = "example.jpg" extension = os.path.splitext(filename)[1] print(extension) # Outputs: .jpg

  2. Using the magic library: The magic library can be used to determine the actual type of a file by looking at its headers rather than relying solely on its extension. It's a more reliable method compared to just checking the file extension.

    First, you need to install the library:

    pip install python-magic

    Then, you can use it as follows:

    import magic mime = magic.Magic(mime=True) file_type = mime.from_file("example.jpg") print(file_type) # Outputs: image/jpeg

  3. Using the filetype library: Another library you can use is filetype. It helps to determine the actual type of a file.

    Install it first:

    pip install filetype

    Here's how to use it:

    import filetype kind = filetype.guess('example.jpg') if kind is None: print('Cannot guess file type!') else: print('File extension:', kind.extension) # Outputs: jpg print('File MIME type:', kind.mime) # Outputs: image/jpeg

Among the methods listed above, using libraries like magic or filetype is generally more reliable than just looking at file extensions, as they analyze the actual content of the file to make their determination.

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