Python os.set_inheritable()

The Python os.set_inheritable() method is used to set the inheritable flag value of a specified file descriptor.

The inheritable flag of a file descriptor tells child processes whether it can inherit it. For example, if a parent process has file descriptor 4 for a particular file and the parent creates a child process, the child process will also have file descriptor 4 for the same file if the inheritable flag for file descriptor 4 in the parent process is set.

Syntax: s.set_inheritable(fd, inheritable)

Parameters:

fd: The file descriptor whose inheritable flag is to be set.

inheritable: An integer or Boolean value indicating the new value of the inheritable flag.

Return type: This method does not return any value.

Example 1

Use the os.set_inheritable() method to set the “inheritable” flag of a given file descriptor.

# Python program to explain os.set_inheritable() method
  
# importing os module
import os
  
# File path
path = "/home/ihritik/Desktop/file.txt"
  
# Open the file and get
# the file descriptor associated
# with it using os.open() method
fd = os.open(path, os.O_RDWR | os.O_CREAT)
  
  
# Print the current value of
# inheritable flag of the
# file descriptor fd using
# os.get_inheritable() method
print("Current value of inheritable flag:", os.get_inheritable(fd))
  
# Change the inheritable flag
# of the file descriptor fd
# using os.set_inheritable() method
inheritable=True
os.set_inheritable(fd, inheritable)
print("Inheritable flag modified")
  
  
# Print the modified value of
# inheritable flag of the
# file descriptor using
# os.get_inheritable() method
print("Current value of inheritable flag:", os.get_inheritable(fd))

Output:

Current value of inheritable flag: False
Inheritable flag modified
Current value of inheritable flag: True