file handling in python.ipynb - Colab https://colab.research.google.com/drive/1hdfFMqXwfU_s...

What is Python �le handling?

Python �le handling refers to the process of working with �les on

the �lesystem. It involves operations such as reading from �les,
writing to �les, appending data, and managing �le pointers.

What are the types of �les in Python?

In Python, �les can broadly be categorized into two types based on their mode of operation:

Text Files: These store data in plain text format. Examples

include .txt �les.

Binary Files: These store data in binary format, which is not

human-readable. Examples include images, videos, and
executable �les.

What are the 4 �le handling functions?

The four primary functions used for �le handling in Python are:

open(): Opens a �le and returns a �le object.

read(): Reads data from a �le.

write(): Writes data to a �le.

close(): Closes the �le, releasing its resources.

Why is �le handling useful?

File handling is essential for tasks such as data storage, retrieval,

and manipulation. It allows Python programs to interact with
external �les, enabling data persistence, con�guration
1 of 9 7/24/24, 15:00
file handling in python.ipynb - Colab https://colab.research.google.com/drive/1hdfFMqXwfU_s...

external �les, enabling data persistence, con�guration

management, logging, and more complex operations like data
analysis and processing.

Python treats �les differently as text or binary and this is

important. Each line of code includes a sequence of characters,
and they form a text �le. Each line of a �le is terminated with a
special character, called the EOL or End of Line characters like
comma {,} or newline character. It ends the current line and tells
the interpreter a new one has begun. Let’s start with the reading
and writing �les.

Advantages of File Handling in Python

Versatility: File handling in Python allows you to perform a wide

range of operations, such as creating, reading, writing,
appending, renaming, and deleting �les.

Flexibility: File handling in Python is highly �exible, as it allows

you to work with different �le types (e.g. text �les, binary �les,
CSV �les, etc.), and to perform different operations on �les (e.g.
read, write, append, etc.).

User–friendly: Python provides a user-friendly interface for �le

handling, making it easy to create, read, and manipulate �les.

Cross-platform: Python �le-handling functions work across

different platforms (e.g. Windows, Mac, Linux), allowing for
seamless integration and compatibility.

2 of 9 7/24/24, 15:00
file handling in python.ipynb - Colab https://colab.research.google.com/drive/1hdfFMqXwfU_s...

Disadvantages of File Handling in Python

Error-prone: File handling operations in Python can be prone to

errors, especially if the code is not carefully written or if there are
issues with the �le system (e.g. �le permissions, �le locks, etc.).

Security risks: File handling in Python can also pose security

risks, especially if the program accepts user input that can be
used to access or modify sensitive �les on the system.

Complexity: File handling in Python can be complex, especially

when working with more advanced �le formats or operations.
Careful attention must be paid to the code to ensure that �les are
handled properly and securely.

Performance: File handling operations in Python can be slower

than other programming languages, especially when dealing with
large �les or performing complex operations.

Python File Open

Before performing any operation on the �le like reading or writing, �rst, we have to open that
�le. For this, we should use Python’s inbuilt function open() but at the time of opening, we
have to specify the mode, which represents the purpose of the opening �le.

f = open(�lename, mode)
Where the following mode is supported:

r: open an existing �le for a read operation.

w: open an existing �le for a write operation. If the �le already

contains some data, then it will be overridden but if the �le is not
present then it creates the �le as well.

a: open an existing �le for append operation. It won’t override

3 of 9 7/24/24, 15:00
file handling in python.ipynb - Colab https://colab.research.google.com/drive/1hdfFMqXwfU_s...

a: open an existing �le for append operation. It won’t override

existing data.

r+: To read and write data into the �le. This mode does not
override the existing data, but you can modify the data starting
from the beginning of the �le.

w+: To write and read data. It overwrites the previous �le if one
exists, it will truncate the �le to zero length or create a �le if it
does not exist.

a+: To append and read data from the �le. It won’t override
existing data.

 Working in Read mode

There is more than one way to How to read from a �le in Python. Let us see how we can read
the content of a �le in read mode.

Example 1: The open command will open the Python �le in the
read mode and the for loop will print each line present in the �le.

import os
def create_file(filename):
try:
with open(filename, 'w') as f:
f.write('Hello, world!.....\nwelcome to Indus University \nthis is example
print("File " + filename + " created successfully.")
except IOError:
print("Error: could not create file " + filename)
if __name__ == '__main__':
filename = "example.txt"
#new_filename = "example.txt"
create_file(filename)
File example.txt created successfully.

# a file named "geek", will be opened with the reading mode.

file = open('example.txt', 'r')
# This will print every line one by one in the file
for each in file:

4 of 9 7/24/24, 15:00
file handling in python.ipynb - Colab https://colab.research.google.com/drive/1hdfFMqXwfU_s...

print (each)
Hello, world!.....

welcome to Indus University

this is example of python file handling

Example 2: In this example, we will extract a string that

 contains all characters in the Python �le then we can use
�le.read().

# Python code to illustrate read() mode

file = open("example.txt", "r")
print (file.read())

Hello, world!.....
welcome to Indus University
this is example of python file handling

Example 3: In this example, we will see how we can read a �le


using the with statement in Python.

# Python code to illustrate with()

with open("example.txt") as file:
data = file.read()

print(data)

Hello, world!.....
welcome to Indus University
this is example of python file handling

Example 4: Another way to read a �le is to call a certain

number of characters like in the following code the interpreter

will read the �rst �ve characters of stored data and return it as
a string:

Double-click (or enter) to edit

5 of 9 7/24/24, 15:00
file handling in python.ipynb - Colab https://colab.research.google.com/drive/1hdfFMqXwfU_s...

# Python code to illustrate read() mode character wise

file = open("example.txt", "r")
print (file.read(5))

Hello

Example 5: We can also split lines while reading �les in

Python. The split() function splits the variable when

space is encountered. You can also split using any
characters as you wish.

# Python code to illustrate split() function

with open("example.txt", "r") as file:
data = file.readlines()
for line in data:
word = line.split()
print (word)

['Hello,', 'world!.....']
['welcome', 'to', 'Indus', 'University']
['this', 'is', 'example', 'of', 'python', 'file', 'handling']

 Working in Write Mode

Example 1: In this example, we will see how the write mode and
the write() function is used to write in a �le. The close()
command terminates all the resources in use and frees the
system of this particular program.

# Python code to create a file

file = open('example.txt','w')
file.write("This is the write command")
file.write("It allows us to write in a particular file")
#file.close()

with open("example.txt") as file:

data = file.read()

print(data)

6 of 9 7/24/24, 15:00
file handling in python.ipynb - Colab https://colab.research.google.com/drive/1hdfFMqXwfU_s...

This is the write commandIt allows us to write in a particular file

# Python code to illustrate with() alongwith write()

with open("file.txt", "w") as f:
f.write("Hello World!!!\n python \n computer engineering")
#read filr
file = open("file.txt", "r")
print (file.readlines())
#print (file.read(5))

['Hello World!!!\n', ' python \n', ' computer engineering']

# Python code to illustrate with() alongwith write()

with open("temp.txt", "w") as f:
f.write("Hello World!!!")
f.write("Welcome to Indus University")
file = open("temp.txt", "r")
print (file.readlines())
#print (file.read(5))
['Hello World!!!Welcome to Indus University']

import os

def create_file(filename):
try:
with open(filename, 'w') as f:
f.write('Hello, world!\n')
print("File " + filename + " created successfully.")
except IOError:
print("Error: could not create file " + filename)

def read_file(filename):
try:
with open(filename, 'r') as f:
contents = f.read()
print(contents)
except IOError:
print("Error: could not read file " + filename)

def append_file(filename, text):

try:
with open(filename, 'a') as f:
f.write(text)
print("Text appended to file " + filename + " successfully.")

7 of 9 7/24/24, 15:00
file handling in python.ipynb - Colab https://colab.research.google.com/drive/1hdfFMqXwfU_s...

print("Text appended to file " + filename + " successfully.")

except IOError:
print("Error: could not append to file " + filename)

def rename_file(filename, new_filename):

try:
os.rename(filename, new_filename)
print("File " + filename + " renamed to " + new_filename + " successfully."
except IOError:
print("Error: could not rename file " + filename)

def delete_file(filename):
try:
os.remove(filename)
print("File " + filename + " deleted successfully.")
except IOError:
print("Error: could not delete file " + filename)

if __name__ == '__main__':
filename = "example.txt"
#new_filename = "new_example.txt"

create_file(filename)

File example.txt created successfully.

if __name__ == '__main__':
filename = "example.txt"
#new_filename = "new_example.txt"

read_file(filename)

Hello, world!

if __name__ == '__main__':
filename = "example.txt"
new_filename = "new_example.txt"

append_file(filename, "This is some additional text.\n")

read_file(filename)
rename_file(filename, new_filename)
read_file(new_filename)
delete_file(new_filename)

8 of 9 7/24/24, 15:00
file handling in python.ipynb - Colab https://colab.research.google.com/drive/1hdfFMqXwfU_s...

Text appended to file example.txt successfully.

Hello, world!
This is some additional text.

File example.txt renamed to new_example.txt successfully.

Hello, world!
This is some additional text.

File new_example.txt deleted successfully.

9 of 9 7/24/24, 15:00