Reference library

Files & data

Read and write files safely; parse JSON, CSV, and common text formats.

2 matches
Files & data easy

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.

datetime backup filenames
Python
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…
12 0 Open
Files & data easy

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.

shutil file-copy pathlib
Python
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:…
11 0 Open

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.