File Handling

File Object
Python provides basic functions and methods necessary to manipulate files by
default. Most of the file manipulation using a file object.

● Open ()
Before we can read or write a file, we have to open it using Python's built-in
open() function.
This function creates a file object, which would be utilized to call other support
methods associated with it.
Parameter Details

file_name − The file_name argument is a string value that contains the name of the file
that you want to access.
access_mode − The access_mode determines the mode in which the file has to be
opened, i.e., read, write, append, etc. default file access mode is read (r).
buffering −
● If the buffering value is set to 0, no buffering takes place.
● If the buffering value is 1, line buffering is performed while accessing a file.
● If the buffering value as an integer greater than 1, then buffering action is performed
with the indicated buffer size.
● If negative, the buffer size is the system default(default behavior).
Modes
r : Opens a file for reading only. The file pointer is placed at the beginning of the
file.

rb: Opens a file for reading only in binary format. The file pointer is placed at the
beginning of the file.

r+ It opens the file to read and write both. The file pointer exists at the beginning of
the file.

rb+ It opens the file to read and write both in binary format. The file pointer exists
at the beginning of the file.
Mode
w : It opens the file to write only. It overwrites the file if previously exists or creates
a new one if no file exists with the same name. The file pointer exists at the
beginning of the file.

wb : It opens the file to write only in binary format. It overwrites the file if it exists
previously or creates a new one if no file exists. The file pointer exists at the
beginning of the file.

w+ It opens the file to write and read both. It is different from r+ in the sense that it
overwrites the previous file if one exists whereas r+ doesn't overwrite the
previously written file. It creates a new file if no file exists. The file pointer exists at
the beginning of the file.
Modes
Wb+ It opens the file to write and read both in binary format. The file pointer exists
at the beginning of the file.

A : It opens the file in the append mode. The file pointer exists at the end of the
previously written file if exists any. It creates a new file if no file exists with the
same name.

Ab : It opens the file in the append mode in binary format. The pointer exists at the
end of the previously written file. It creates a new file in binary format if no file
exists with the same name.
Modes
A+ It opens a file to append and read both. The file pointer remains at the end of
the file if a file exists. It creates a new file if no file exists with the same name.

Ab+ It opens a file to append and read both in binary format. The file pointer
remains at the end of the file.
Close ()
● The close method used to terminate the program. Once all the operations are done on
the file, we must close it through our Python script using the close() method.
● Any unwritten information gets destroyed once the close() method is called on a file
object.
● We can perform any operation on the file externally using the file system which is the
currently opened in Python; hence it is good practice to close the file once all the
operations are done.

fileptr = open("file.txt","r")
if fileptr:
print("The existing file is opened successfully in Python")
#closes the opened file
fileptr.close()
With statement

● Used to do processing with file objects

with open("file.txt",'r') as f:
content = f.read();
print(content)
Write ()
● Used to write data in file

fileptr = open("file2.txt", "w")

# appending the content to the file
fileptr.write(''''''''Python is the modern programming language. It is done
any kind of program in shortest way.''')

# closing the opened the file

fileptr.close()
Read ()

● Used to read the content of file

#open the file.txt in read mode. causes error if no such file exists.
fileptr = open("file2.txt","r")
#stores all the data of the file into the variable content
content = fileptr.read(10)
# prints the type of the data stored in the file
print(type(content))
#prints the content of the file
print(content)
#closes the opened file
fileptr.close()
readline()
● readline() method reads the lines of the file from the beginning
● Only read one line at a time
readline()
This method read multiple lines till EOF

fileptr = open("file2.txt","r");
content = fileptr.readlines()
print(content)
fileptr.close()
 tell()
The tell() methods is return the position of read or write pointer in this file.

fileptr = open("file2.txt","r")
print("The filepointer is at byte :",fileptr.tell())
content = fileptr.read();

print("After reading, the filepointer is at:",fileptr.tell())

seek()
seek() method change the cursor in the file

offset: It refers to the new position of the file pointer within the file.
from:
● 0 beginning of the file is used as the reference position.
● 1, current position of the file pointer is used as the reference
position.
● 2, act as end of the file pointer is used as the reference position.
seek()
# open the file file2.txt in read mode
fileptr = open("file2.txt","r")
#initially the filepointer is at 0
print("The filepointer is at byte :",fileptr.tell())
#changing the file pointer location to 10.
fileptr.seek(10);
#tell() returns the location of the fileptr.
print("After reading, the filepointer is at:",fileptr.tell())
Rename to rename old file to new
import os
#rename file2.txt to file3.txt
os.rename("file2.txt","file3.txt")

Remove () : to remove the file

● import os;
● #deleting the file named file3.txt
● os.remove("file3.txt")
MKDIR : to create directory

import os

#creating a new directory with the name new

os.mkdir("new")

Getcwd : to know the current working directory

import os
os.getcwd()
chdir(): to change change directory

import os

# Changing current directory with the new directiory

os.chdir("C:\\Users\\DEVANSH SHARMA\\Documents")

#It will display the current working directory

os.getcwd()

rmdir() : remove directory

import os
#removing the new directory
os.rmdir("directory_name")
listdir() : listing all directories

import os

print(os.getcwd())

# list all sub-directories

os.listdir()
End