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 chowning and removal of files and directories.
shutil.chown() method in Python is used to change the owner and /or group of the specified path.
Syntax: shutil.chown(path, user = None, group = None)
Parameters:
path: A string value representing a valid path.
user: A string value representing a system user
group: A string value representing a group
user and group can be also given by user id (uid) and group id (gid) respectively.
Return Type: This method does not return any value.
Code #1: Use of shutil.chown() method to change owner and group of the specified path
# Python program to explain shutil.chown() method
# importing shutil module
import shutil
# importing Path class of pathlib module
from pathlib import Path
# Path
path = '/home/ihritik/Desktop/file.txt'
# Get the owner and group
# of the specified path
# using Path.owner() and
# Path.group() method
info = Path(path)
user = info.owner()
group = info.group()
# Print owner and group
# of the specified path
print("Current owner and group of the specified path")
print("Owner:", user)
print("Group:", group)
# Now, change the owner and group
# of the specified path
user = 'ihritik'
group = 'ihritik'
shutil.chown(path, user, group)
print("\nOwner and group changed")
# Print the owner and group
# of the specified path
info = Path(path)
user = info.owner()
group = info.group()
print("Current owner:", user)
print("Current group:", group)
# Change only group
# of the specified path
# and let owner as it is
group = 'root'
shutil.chown(path, group = group)
print("\nOnly group changed")
# Print the owner and
# group of the specified path
info = Path(path)
user = info.owner()
group = info.group()
print("Current owner:", user)
print("Current group:", group)
# Similarly, we can change
# only owner of the
# specified path and let
# group as it is
Output:
Current owner and group of the specified path Owner: root Group: root Owner and group changed Current owner: ihritik Current group: ihritik Only group changed Current owner: ihritik Current group: root
Code #2: Use of shutil.chown() method
# Python program to explain shutil.chown() method
# We can also change owner
# and group of the specified path
# by passing owner id (uid) and
# group id (gid) as parameter
# instead of passing name of
# owner and / or group
# importing shutil module
import shutil
# importing Path class of pathlib module
from pathlib import Path
# Path
path = '/home/ihritik/Desktop/file.txt'
# Get the owner user and
# group of the specified path
# using Path.owner() and
# Path.group() method
info = Path(path)
user = info.owner()
group = info.group()
print("Current owner and group of the specified path")
print("Current owner:", user)
print("Current group:", group)
# Now, change the owner user
# and group of the
# specified path
uid = 0
gid = 0
shutil.chown(path, uid, gid)
print("\nOwner and group changed")
# Print the owner user and
# group of the specified path
info = Path(path)
user = info.owner()
group = info.group()
print("Current owner:", user)
print("Current group:", group)
Output:
Current owner and group of the specified path Owner: ihritik Group: ihritik Owner and group changed Current owner: root Current group: root
