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Learn how to use Python regex to remove trailing numbers from filenames, while preserving the rest of the filename intact.
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Using Regex to Remove Only the Trailing Number from a Filename in Python

If you are dealing with a large set of filenames that contain trailing numbers and you need to clean them up, regular expressions (regex) in Python can be an incredibly powerful tool. This guide will guide you through using Python's regex module to remove only the trailing number from a filename while preserving the rest of the filename intact.

Understanding the Problem

Imagine you have a list of filenames like:

file123.txt

document456.docx

image789.jpg

Your goal is to strip off the trailing numbers, resulting in:

file.txt

document.docx

image.jpg

Step-by-Step Solution

Import the re Module:
Python provides a built-in re module for regex operations. First, import this module.

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Define a Regex Pattern:
The regex pattern needed to detect numbers at the end of the filename should be clear and precise. Use the following regex pattern:

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Here's the breakdown:

(\d+) matches one or more digits.

(.\w+)$ ensures that the digits are followed by a file extension (e.g., .txt, .docx) and marks the end of the string.

Using re.sub() to Replace Matches:
The re.sub() function will replace the matched pattern with a specified replacement string.

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Test the Function:

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This will output:

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Conclusion

The regex pattern \d+(?=.\w+$) used with the re.sub() function effectively removes trailing numbers from filenames while retaining the rest of the filename. Whether you are looking to filter filenames for a personal project or working on a large-scale data cleaning task, understanding and utilizing Python's regex capabilities can be extremely beneficial.

By mastering these small yet impactful techniques, you can streamline your filename handling tasks and keep your projects organized and efficient.