Checking if layer with given name exists in QGIS Project using PyQGIS

Question

In QGIS, what is the simplest Python code (least possible) to verify if a particular layer is PRESENT or ABSENT in the Map Layers list?

The script shouldn't trip an error IF the layer is ABSENT.

Answer 1

len(QgsMapLayerRegistry.instance().mapLayersByName('the_Map_Layer_in_question')) != 0

Trueif layer exists, otherwise False

• ndawson: note that you could avoid the len(...) != 0 and just directly test the returned list, eg if QgsMapLayerRegistry.instance().mapLayersByName('the_Map_Layer_in_question'):

Answer 2

For QGIS 3.x versions

In QGIS 3.x the functionality of QgsMapLayerRegistry has been moved to QgsProject, so in PyQGIS 3 you need this:

layers = QgsProject.instance().mapLayersByName("the_Map_Layer_in_question")
exist = True if layers else False
print(exist)

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References:

• QGIS API Documentation

Answer 3

 boolean = False
 layers = QgsMapLayerRegistry.instance().mapLayers()
 for name, layer in layers.iteritems():
 if layer.name() == ('the_Map_Layer_in_question'):
 boolean = True 
 # if the map layer exists boolean == True, if it doesn't boolean == False