Python | shutil.which() method

Shutil module in Python provides many functions of high-level operations on files and collections of files. It comes under Python’s standard utility modules. This module helps in automating process of copying and removal of files and directories.
shutil.which() method tells the path to an executable application which would be run if the given cmd was called. This method can be used to find a file on computer which is present on the PATH.

Syntax: shutil.which(cmd, mode = os.F_OK | os.X_OK, path = None)
Parameters:
cmd: A string representing the file.
mode: This parameter specifies mode by which method should execute. os.F_OK tests existence of the path and os.X_OK Checks if path can be executed or we can say mode determines if the file exists and executable.
path: This parameter specifies the path to be used, if no path is specified then the results of os.environ() are used
Return Value: This method returns the path to an executable application

Example #1 :
Using shutil.which() method to get location of Python

Output:

/usr/bin/python

Example #2 :
Using shutil.which() method to get location of C++

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# Python program to explain shutil.which() method         # importing os module  import os     # importing shutil module  import shutil     # cmd  cmd = 'c++'    # Using shutil.which() method locate = shutil.which(cmd)    # Print result print(locate)

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Output:

/usr/bin/c++

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