python re.search error TypeError: expected string or buffer

Question

Why would

re.search("\.docx", os.listdir(os.getcwd()))

yield the following error?

TypeError: expected string or buffer

anon582847382 · Accepted Answer · 2014-04-06 16:43:32Z

10

Because os.listdir returns a list but re.search wants a string.

The easiest way to do what you are doing is:

[f for f in os.listdir(os.getcwd()) if f.endswith('.docx')]

Or even:

import glob
glob.glob('*.docx')

answered Apr 6, 2014 at 16:43

anon582847382

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1 Comment

Thanks for being gentle, I just started python today! Thank you!

ajknzhol · Accepted Answer · 2014-04-06 16:51:10Z

2

re.search() expects str as the second argument. Refer docs to know more.

import re, os

a = re.search("\.docx", str(os.listdir(os.getcwd())))
if a:
    print(True)
else:
    print(False)

answered Apr 6, 2014 at 16:51

ajknzhol

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