Python Standard Library

The filecmp Module

(New in 2.0) The filecmp module, shown in Example 14-4, contains functions to compare files and directories.

Example 14-4. Using the filecmp Module

File: filecmp-example-1.py

import filecmp

if filecmp.cmp("samples/sample.au", "samples/sample.wav"):
    print "files are identical"
else:
    print "files differ!"

# files differ!

In 1.5.2 and earlier, you can use the cmp and dircmp modules instead.