Python os.system() Method

1. Syntax of Python os.system() Method
2. Example 1: Use the os.system() Method to Get Current Date of Computer
3. Example 2: Use the os.system() Method to Create a New Notepad Text File
4. Example 3: Use the os.system() Method and Its Alternative to Display Text
5. Example 4: Use the os.system() Method to Clear the Screen

Python os.system() method is an efficient way of executing a string command in a subshell. The os.system() is implemented by calling the standard C function system() and has the same limitations.

Syntax of Python os.system() Method

os.system(command)

Parameters

Return

The return type of this method depends on the OS. For example, on a Unix system, the return value is the exit status of the completed process.

On Windows OS, the return value is the value returned by the system command shell.

Example 1: Use the os.system() Method to Get Current Date of Computer

import os

command = "date"

os.system(command)

Output:

UNIX:
Fri 19 Aug 2022 11:48:48 AM UTC

Windows OS:
The current date is: Fri 08/19/2022

While using this method, if the input command generates any output, it is directly sent to the interpreter as a standard output stream.

Example 2: Use the os.system() Method to Create a New Notepad Text File

import os

command = "notepad"

os.system(command)

Output:

On any Unix system, we can use the waitstatus_to_exitcode() to convert the exit status into an exit code (0).

Example 3: Use the os.system() Method and Its Alternative to Display Text

import os

os.system("echo Hello, World!")

string = "Hello, World!"

print(string)

Output:

Hello, World!
Hello, World!

We use the echo command to print the output on our stdout stream.

Example 4: Use the os.system() Method to Clear the Screen

import os

# for use on UNIX
os.system("clear")

# for use on Windows OS
os.system("cls")

Output:

UNIX:
Windows OS:0

Using the os.system() method instead of the standard OS compiler will result in slower process execution.