python fn = sys.argv[1] meaning in code (spyder)

Question

I'm currently learning Python in spyder software and was just wondering (In reference to my example below) in simplified terms what the sys.argv[1] represents. Is it simply asking for an input?

    import sys

    fn = sys.argv[1]

    filename = os.path.split(fn)[-1].split(".")[0]
    filepath = os.path.split(fn)[0]

    src = cv2.imread(fn)
    # read the image```

>IndexError: list index out of range

`sys.argv` is a list of command-line arguments. – John Gordon Apr 21 '22 at 14:59 — John Gordon, Apr 21 '22 at 14:59

score 0 · Answer 1 · answered Apr 21 '22 at 15:06

sys.argv is a List of Command Line argument.
from the terminal you type: python path/to/your_script.py path/to/the_image.jpg
then the sys.argv List would be: ["path/to/your_script.py", "path/to/the_image.jpg"]
in your case: sys.argv[1] refers to the image file which cv2 should read (ie: "path/to/the_image.jpg").

python fn = sys.argv[1] meaning in code (spyder)

1 Answers1