File Handling

What is File Handling in Python?

File handling in Python is the process of reading, writing and managing files on the computer’s file system using built-in functions and methods.

In Python, a file operation takes places in the following order:

1. Open a file

2. Read or write (perform operation)

3. Close the file

Opening Files

Python has a built-in open() function to open a file

You can either write the file name if name is unique, else you can write whole file path.

There are four different methods (modes) for opening a file:

“r” – Read

Default value. Opens a file for reading, error if the file does not exists.

“a” – Append

Opens a file for appending, creates the file if it does not exists.

“w” – Write

Opens a file for writing, creates the file if it does not exists.

“x” – Create

Creates the specified file, returns an error if the file exists.

Reading Files

To read a file in Python, we must open the file in reading mode.

‘r’ – it tells the file is in reading mode.

Writing Files in Python

Writing a string or sequence of bytes is done using the write() method.

‘r’ – it tells the file is in reading mode.

Closing Files

It is done using the close method available in Python.