What is the purpose of the pathlib module in Python?

The pathlib module is a standard library built-in to Python 3.4 and above, which offers a concise and user-friendly way to work with file paths and directories. Its functions include:

1. It provides an object-oriented way to manipulate file paths and directories, making the code more elegant and readable.
2. It encapsulates many common file and directory operations, such as checking if a path exists, creating directories, deleting files, and more.
3. Support cross-platform path operations, allowing the same code to be used on different operating systems.
4. Support for parsing and constructing file paths allows for easy access to information such as file name, parent directory, and file extension.
5. A method has been provided for traversing the directory tree, making it easy to search for and process files.
6. Support a variety of operations on paths, such as joining paths, getting the absolute path, and normalizing paths.

In short, the pathlib module offers a more convenient and consistent way to work with file paths and directories, making code more readable and easier to maintain.