pathlib2
Object-oriented filesystem paths
Decision gist · record as of 2026-08-14
No, unless you are maintaining legacy Python 2.7 or very early Python 3 code. Modern Python versions include pathlib in the standard library; use that instead. The package is stable and permissively licensed, but dormant maintenance and the availability of built-in pathlib make it unnecessary for new projects.AI-flagged interpretation of the facts on this page — verify before relying
Before you install
- Intended for Python 2.7 and early Python 3.x; modern Python versions include pathlib in the standard library and should use that instead.
- Low install friction with a pure-Python wheel.
- Dormant maintenance status—last release was 2022-02-10 and last commit 2023-09-29—but the package is stable and tracks the standard library, so updates are infrequent by design.
License · maintenance · safety
MIT (permissive) — MIT license (permissive) allows use in commercial and open-source projects with minimal restrictions.
last release 2022-02-10 (1646 days) · last repo commit 2023-09-29 · 86 stars
0 known vulnerabilities (OSV.dev, 2026-08-14) · 4,426,297 downloads/mo, #2,304 on PyPI
Alternatives
Verify before relying
pip install pathlib2
from pathlib2 import Path
p = Path('/home/user/file.txt')
print(p.exists())- Whether the package is still actively maintained or if it is effectively superseded by the standard library pathlib.
- Current compatibility with Python versions beyond 3.9 and whether the package is tested against modern releases.
- Whether the Windows Python 2.7 unicode filename issue (issue #56) remains unfixed and affects current users.
What it is and what it does
pathlib2 is a backport of Python's standard pathlib module, designed to bring modern path-handling APIs to older Python versions that predate pathlib's inclusion in the standard library. It provides an object-oriented interface for working with filesystem paths across platforms, replacing string-based path manipulation with a cleaner, more intuitive API. The package depends on six, scandir, and typing to maintain compatibility across Python 2.7 and early Python 3 releases.
The backport tracks the standard library's pathlib implementation, so features added to the standard module are eventually available through pathlib2 on older Python versions. However, it carries a known limitation: on Windows with Python 2.7, non-ASCII filename characters may be silently corrupted due to the platform's filesystem encoder having poor Unicode support. Development now occurs primarily in the Python standard library itself, making this package a maintenance-light compatibility shim rather than an actively developed project.
Use it for
- Migrate legacy Python 2.7 codebases to use modern pathlib syntax before upgrading to Python 3.
- Maintain a single codebase across Python 2.7 and early Python 3.x versions using consistent path APIs.
- Use pathlib's object-oriented path interface in projects that must support Python 3.5 or 3.6.
- Backport pathlib features to environments where the standard library version is unavailable or outdated.
Worth the install?
AI-flagged interpretation of the facts on this page. Verify before relying on it.
No, unless you are maintaining legacy Python 2.7 or very early Python 3 code.
Modern Python versions include pathlib in the standard library; use that instead. The package is stable and permissively licensed, but dormant maintenance and the availability of built-in pathlib make it unnecessary for new projects.
Install
pathlib2 on PyPI
Before you install
Low install friction with a pure-Python wheel. Dormant maintenance status—last release was 2022-02-10 and last commit 2023-09-29—but the package is stable and tracks the standard library, so updates are infrequent by design.
Intended for Python 2.7 and early Python 3.x; modern Python versions include pathlib in the standard library and should use that instead.
License in practice
MIT license (permissive) allows use in commercial and open-source projects with minimal restrictions.
Quickstart
pip install pathlib2
from pathlib2 import Path
p = Path('/home/user/file.txt')
print(p.exists())Verify before relying
- Whether the package is still actively maintained or if it is effectively superseded by the standard library pathlib.
- Current compatibility with Python versions beyond 3.9 and whether the package is tested against modern releases.
- Whether the Windows Python 2.7 unicode filename issue (issue #56) remains unfixed and affects current users.
Package facts
| License | MIT permissive |
| Python support | Not specified |
| Install friction | Low. Pure-Python wheel |
| Runtime dependencies | 3 packagessixscandirtyping |
| Maintenance | Dormant 1,646 days since the last release |
| Last repo commit | |
| First released | |
| Downloads | 4,426,297 / month, #2,304 on PyPI 30-day window, as of 2026-08-14 |
| Known vulnerabilities | None known OSV.dev, checked 2026-08-14 |
| Classifiers | Development Status :: 5 - Production/StableIntended Audience :: DevelopersLicense :: OSI Approved :: MIT LicenseOperating System :: OS IndependentProgramming Language :: PythonProgramming Language :: Python :: 2Programming Language :: Python :: 2.7Programming Language :: Python :: 3Programming Language :: Python :: 3.5Programming Language :: Python :: 3.6Programming Language :: Python :: 3.7Programming Language :: Python :: 3.8Programming Language :: Python :: 3.9Topic :: Software Development :: LibrariesTopic :: System :: Filesystems |
Evidence: pathlib2-2.3.7.post1-py2.py3-none-any.whl
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See also pathlib · pathlib3x · py · path.py · pathlib-abc · traceback2 · urlpath · path · configparser2 · artifactory