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os.mkdir() method-Python

Last Updated : 01 Jul, 2025
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os.mkdir() method in Python create a new directory at a specified path. If the directory already exists, a FileExistsError is raised. This method can also set permissions for the new directory using the optional mode parameter. Example:

Python
import os

d = "GeeksForGeeks"
parent_d = "/home/User/Documents"
path = os.path.join(parent_d, d)
os.mkdir(path)
print("Directory created at:", path)

Output

Directory created at: C:/Users/GFG0578/Documents\GeeksForGeeks

Explanation: This code creates a folder named GeeksForGeeks inside the specified parent directory. os.path.join() combines both paths correctly and os.mkdir() creates the new directory.

Syntax of os.mkdir()

os.mkdir(path, mode=0o777, *, dir_fd=None)

Parameters:

  • path (str, bytes or os.PathLike): Target directory path.
  • mode (int, optional): Permission (default: 0o777).
  • dir_fd (optional): Relative directory file descriptor; ignored if path is absolute.

Returns:

  • This function performs the operation but does not return a value.
  • Raises FileExistsError if the directory already exists or OSError if the path is invalid or inaccessible.

Examples

Example 1: Creating a directory with custom mode

Python
import os

d = "CustomFolder"
parent_path = "C:/Users/GFG0578/Documents"
mode = 0o755

path = os.path.join(parent_path, d)

os.mkdir(path, mode)
print("Directory created with mode:", oct(mode))

Output

Directory created with mode: 0o755

Explanation: This code creates a CustomFolder inside the given parent path with 0o755 permissions (Unix-based). oct(mode) displays the permissions in octal format.

Example 2: Handling errors if directory already exists

Python
import os
path = "C:/Users/GFG0578/Documents/ExistingFolder"

try:
    os.mkdir(path)
except OSError as e:
    print("Error:", e)

Output
Error: [Errno 2] No such file or directory: 'C:/Users/GFG0578/Documents/ExistingFolder'

Explanation: This code attempts to create a directory that may already exist. To prevent the program from crashing, a try-except block catches any OSError, such as when the folder already exists and prints an appropriate error message.

Example 3: Invalid parent path

Python
import os
path = "C:/InvalidPath/NoFolder/NewDir"

try:
    os.mkdir(path)
except OSError as e:
    print("Error:", e)

Output
Error: [Errno 2] No such file or directory: 'C:/InvalidPath/NoFolder/NewDir'

Explanation: This code tries to create a directory in a non-existent path. Since intermediate folders don't exist, os.mkdir() raises an OSError, which is caught and printed to prevent a crash.

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