Files & data
Read and write files safely; parse JSON, CSV, and common text formats.
How to Build a Dated Backup Filename with Timestamp in Python
Generate unique backup filenames with a timestamp using Python's datetime module and f-strings.
from datetime import datetime
def build_backup_filename(base_name: str, extension: str = "bak") -> str:
"""Generate a dated backup filename with timestamp."""
timestamp = datetime.now().strftime("%Y%m%d_%H%M%S")
return f"{base_name}_{timestamp}.{extension}"
if __name__ == "__main__":
backup_file = bu…
How to Copy a File with shutil.copy2 in Python
Copy a file while preserving metadata like timestamps and permissions using Python's shutil.copy2 and pathlib.
import shutil
from pathlib import Path
source = Path("sample.txt")
destination = Path("sample_copy.txt")
source.write_text("Hello, PythonSkillset!")
if __name__ == "__main__":
shutil.copy2(source, destination)
copied = destination.read_text()
print(f"Copied content: {copied}")
print(f"Source exists:…
Browse by section
Each section groups closely related Python snippets.
Files & data — Python code examples
What you will find here
This page collects files & data snippets — short, copy-ready Python you can paste into our free online IDE and run without installing anything. Each sample includes a plain-English explanation and the full source code.
Samples vs tutorials and challenges
Samples are quick reference — one concept per page. For step-by-step teaching, use our Python tutorials. To test yourself, try quizzes or coding challenges. Clean up style with the Python formatter.