Zipp is a well-known Python library. In Python, handling ZIP archives is a task you will be doing very often, especially when you work with compressed data. With Python's built-in "zipfile" module already providing basic features for creating, reading, writing, and extracting ZIP files, it needs an interface similar to that of "-pathlib" for easy path manipulations. This is where the zipp library comes for your help. It offeres a -pathlib compatible interface for ZIP files. It also helps with your code readability and efficiency. Let us take you through "zipp" tutorial now.
What is Zipp?
"Zipp" is a Python library that allows a pathlib compatible interface for all your ZIP files. It acts as a backport of the "zipfile.Path" object, that was introduced with Python version 3.8. This enables you to use earlier Python versions as well to utilize modern path-operations on ZIP archives. This additional compatibility lets programmers and developers write similar code across different Python versions, without putting functionality in danger.
Key Features of Zipp
- Lightweight: Zipp is both lightweight and efficient. It is a minimalistic wrapper. It add functionality to an existing zipfile module, without adding much overhead. This makes it an efficient choice and also easy to integrate.
- Pathlib compatibility: "zipp" provides an interface that is very similar to that of "pathlib.Path" object. This allows easier navigation and manipulation of ZIP file contents.
- Backport functionality: It is designed to support Python versions even earlier than 3.8. This ensures that developers working in diverse environments and legacy applications, can still utilize all of its features without worrying about compatibility issues.
How to Install Zipp
Let us see how you can set up zipp using the "pip" module. Execute this command:
pip install zipp
Practical Applications of Zipp
Now, let us take you through some real-world applications where zipp can be used for various operations on ZIP files.
How to Create a ZIP File with Zipp
If you want to create a new ZIP file and add files to it, execute this command:
import zipfile
import zipp
# First let us create a new ZIP file
with zipfile.ZipFile('example.zip', 'w') as zf:
# This step adds files to the ZIP file
zf.writestr('file1.txt', 'This is the content of file1.')
zf.writestr('folder/file2.txt', 'This is the content of file2.')
# Now let us open the ZIP file using zipp.Path
zip_path = zipp.Path('example.zip')
# As a final step, verify the contents
for item in zip_path.iterdir():
print(item)
In our sample script, we first created a ZIP file named "example.zip". Then we added two files to it: file1.txt file at the root and file2.txt in a directory named folder. Next, we opened the ZIP file using "zipp.Path" and finally we listed the contents of the file.
How to Read Files from a ZIP Archive
To read the contents of a file within a ZIP archive, use this sample script:
import zipp
# First, let us open the ZIP path
zip_path = zipp.Path('example.zip')
# Let us access a specific file
file_in_zip = zip_path / 'folder' / 'file2.txt'
# To read the content
with file_in_zip.open() as f:
content = f.read()
print(content.decode('utf-8'))
In this script, first we navigated to file2.txt within the "folder" directory of the ZIP archive and then read its content.
How to Check for File Availability
You can verify if a specific file exists in the ZIP archive using this script:
import zipp
# Open the ZIP file
zip_path = zipp.Path('example.zip')
# Check if a file exists
file_exists = (zip_path / 'file1.txt').exists()
print(f'file1.txt exists: {file_exists}')
# Check for a non-existent file
non_existent = (zip_path / 'non_existent.txt').exists()
print(f'non_existent.txt exists: {non_existent}')
This script checks for the existence of "file1.txt" and a non-existent file, explaining how to handle such scenarios.
How to Extract Files from a ZIP Archive
To easily extract files and directories from a ZIP archive, use this script:
import zipp
import shutil
# Open the ZIP file
zip_path = zipp.Path('example.zip')
# Specify the extraction path
extract_to = 'extracted_folder'
# Extract all contents
shutil.unpack_archive(zip_path.filename, extract_to)
print(f'Contents extracted to {extract_to}')
In this example, we use `"shutil.unpack_archive" to extract all contents of the ZIP file to a directory named "extracted_folder".
How to Navigate Directory Structures within a ZIP Archive
With zipp you can navigate through directories inside a ZIP file. Here is how you can do it:
import zipp
# Open the ZIP file
zip_path = zipp.Path('example.zip')
# Navigate to a directory
folder_path = zip_path / 'folder'
# List contents of the directory
for item in folder_path.iterdir():
print(item)
With this script, we navigated to the "folder" directory within the ZIP archive and list its contents.
How can You Integrate Zipp with Standard Library
For Python versions 3.8 and later, the standard library's "zipfile" module comes with "zipfile.Path", offering similar functionality to zipp.
However, zipp remains the preferred choice for developers requiring consistent functionalities across multiple Python versions or those seeking additional features introduced in zipp before their inclusion in the standard library.
Key Takeaways
"zipp" enhances Python's capability to handle ZIP files by providing a "pathlib"-like interface, making it easy and efficient to navigate and manipulate archived files. Whether you are maintaining compatibility with older Python versions or seeking a more comfortable way to work with ZIP archives, zipp offers an easy way for you.