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Python Introduction
Python File I/OPython File
Python Flow Control
Operation
A file is a container in computer storage devices used for storing data.
Python Functions

When we want to read from or write to a file, we need to open it first.

Python Datatypes When we are done, it needs to be closed so that the resources that are
tied with the file are freed.
Python Files
Hence, in Python, a file operation takes place in the following order:
Python File (/python-
Operation programming/file-
1. Open a file
operation)
2. Read or write (perform operation)
Python (/python-
Directoryprogramming/directory) 3. Close the file

Python (/python-
Exceptionprogramming/exceptions)

Exception(/python-
Handling programming/exception- Opening Files in Python
handling)

User- (/python-
In Python, we use the open() method to open files.
defined programming/user-
Exception defined-exception) To demonstrate how we open files in Python, let's suppose we have a
file named test.txt with the following content.
Python Object & Class

Python Advanced Topics

Python Date and time

Opening Files in Python

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check file using thenew
soon for function.
contents.
open()

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file1 = open("test.txt")
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we have created a file object named file1 . This object can be
used to work with files and directories.
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By default, the files are open in read mode (cannot be modified). The
code above is equivalent to

file1 = open("test.txt", "r")

Here, we have explicitly specified the mode by passing the "r"

argument which means file is opened for reading.

Different Modes to Open a File in Python

Mode Description

r Open a file for reading. (default)

Open a file for writing. Creates a new file if it does not exist
w
or truncates the file if it exists.

Open a file for exclusive creation. If the file already exists,

x
the operation fails.

Open a file for appending at the end of the file without

a
truncating it. Creates a new file if it does not exist.

t Open in text mode. (default)

b Open in binary mode.

+ Open a file for updating (reading and writing)

Python Tutorials

Python open()
(/python-
programming/methods/built-
in/open) Here's few simple examples of how to open a file in different modes,
Working with CSV files in Python
(/python-programming/working- file1 = open("test.txt") # equivalent to 'r' or 'rt'
with-csv-files) file1 = open("test.txt",'w') # write in text mode
file1 = open("img.bmp",'r+b') # read and write in binary mode
Python print()
 (/python-
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After we open a file, we
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(/python-programming/json)
Try use the read() method to read its contents.
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Python CSV For example,
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(/python-programming/csv)

Reading CSV files in Python # open a file

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(/python-programming/reading-csv- file1 = open("test.txt", "r")
files)
# read the file
read_content = file1.read()
print(read_content)

Output

This is a test file.

Hello from the test file.

In the above example, we have read the test.txt file that is available
in our current directory. Notice the code,

read_content = file1.read

Here, file1.read() reads the test.txt file and is stored in the

read_content variable.

Closing Files in Python

When we are done with performing operations on the file, we need to
properly close the file.

Closing a file will free up the resources that were tied with the file. It is
done using the close() method in Python. For example,

# open a file
file1 = open("test.txt", "r")

# read the file

read_content = file1.read()
print(read_content)

# close the file

file1.close()

Output
 Thank you for printing our content at www.domain-name.com. Please check back soon for new contents.
This is a test file.
Hello from the test file.
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Here, we have used the close() method to close the file.
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we perform file operation, we should always close the file; it's a
good programming practice.
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Exception Handling in Files

If an exception occurs when we are performing some operation with
the file, the code exits without closing the file. A safer way is to use a
try...finally (/python-programming/exception-handling) block.

Let's see an example,

try:
file1 = open("test.txt", "r")
read_content = file1.read()
print(read_content)

finally:
# close the file
file1.close()

Here, we have closed the file in the finally block as finally always
executes, and the file will be closed even if an exception occurs.

Use of with...open Syntax

In Python, we can use the with...open syntax to automatically close
the file. For example,

with open("test.txt", "r") as file1:

read_content = file1.read()
print(read_content)

Note: Since we don't have to worry about closing the file, make
a habit of using the with...open syntax.
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There are two things we need to remember while writing to a file.
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If we try to open a filetutorials
that doesn't exist, a new file is created.
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If a file already exists, its content is erased, and new content is
added to the file.
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In order to write into a file in Python, we need to open it in write mode

by passing "w" inside open() as a second argument.

Suppose, we don't have a file named test2.txt. Let's see what

happens if we write contents to the test2.txt file.

with open(test2.txt', 'w') as file2:

# write contents to the test2.txt file

file2.write('Programming is Fun.')
fil2.write('Programiz for beginners')

Here, a new test2.txt file is created and this file will have contents
specified inside the write() method.

Writing to Python Files

Python File Methods

There are various methods available with the file object. Some of them
have been used in the above examples.

Here is the complete list of methods in text mode with a brief

description:

Method Description

Closes an opened file. It has no effect if the file

close()
is already closed.
 Thank you for printing our content at www.domain-name.com. Please checkthe
Separates back soon for new
underlying contents.
binary buffer from
detach()
the TextIOBase and returns it.
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Returns an integer number (file descriptor) of
fileno()
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flush() Flushes the write buffer of the file stream.

Skip Ad isatty() Returns True if the file stream is interactive.

Reads at most n characters from the file.

read( n )
Reads till end of file if it is negative or None .

Returns True if the file stream can be read

readable()
from.

Reads and returns one line from the file. Reads

readline( n =-1)
in at most n bytes if specified.

Reads and returns a list of lines from the file.

readlines( n =-1) Reads in at most n bytes/characters if
specified.

seek( offset , Changes the file position to offset bytes, in

from = SEEK_SET ) reference to from (start, current, end).

Returns True if the file stream supports

seekable()
random access.

Returns an integer that represents the current

tell()
position of the file's object.

truncate( size = Resizes the file stream to size bytes. If size

None ) is not specified, resizes to current location.

Returns True if the file stream can be written

writable()
to.

Writes the string s to the file and returns the

write( s )
number of characters written.

writelines( lines ) Writes a list of lines to the file.

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