How Can I Execute External Commands Safely and Efficiently in Python?

Executing External Commands in Python

One common task when programming in Python is to call an external command or program from within your script. This allows you to interact with the operating system and execute tasks as if you were typing them directly into a shell or command prompt.

subprocess.run

The recommended way to execute external commands in Python is by using the subprocess.run function. This function provides a safe and flexible way to interact with external programs.

import subprocess

subprocess.run(["ls", "-l"])

The code above will execute the 'ls -l' command in the system's default shell, and it will output the results of the command to the standard output of your Python program.

os.system

Another common method of executing external commands in Python is by using the os.system function. However, it is important to note that os.system is generally considered less flexible and less secure than subprocess.run.

Python 3.4 and Earlier

Prior to Python 3.4, the subprocess.run function was not available. Instead, you would use the subprocess.call function:

subprocess.call(["ls", "-l"])

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