Explain the file Handling in Python.

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Anubhav Kumar · Answer

File handling in Python is an essential part of programming — it allows you to
create,
read, write, and manipulate files directly from your code.
Here’s a complete explanation — simple and structured
1. What Is File Handling?
File handling in Python enables programs to store data permanently (unlike variables, which are lost when a program ends). You can use it to work with text files (.txt), binary files (.bin), CSV, JSON, and more.
Python provides a built-in function:
open()
to interact with files.
2. Syntax of open()
file = open("filename", "mode")
Parameters:
filename → Name or path of the file (e.g., 
"data.txt" or "C:/Files/data.txt")mode → Defines the purpose of opening the file.
3. File Modes
Mode
Meaning
Description
'r'
Read
Opens file for reading (default). Error if file doesn’t exist.
'w'
Write
Opens for writing, creates new file or overwrites existing one.
'a'
Append
Opens for writing, creates new file if missing, adds to end of file.
'r+'
Read and Write
Reads and writes, doesn’t truncate file.
'w+'
Write and Read
Overwrites existing file.
'a+'
Append and Read
Adds new data, can also read existing data.
'x'
Exclusive creation
Creates file; raises error if file exists.
'b'
Binary mode
For binary files (images, audio, etc.). Used as 'rb', 'wb', etc.
't'
Text mode
Default mode for text files.
4. Reading Files
a) Read the whole file
with open("example.txt", "r") as file:
    content = file.read()
    print(content)
b) Read line by line
with open("example.txt", "r") as file:
    for line in file:
        print(line.strip())
c) Read first N characters
with open("example.txt", "r") as file:
    print(file.read(10))  # Reads first 10 characters
5. Writing to Files
a) Overwrite existing content
with open("example.txt", "w") as file:
    file.write("This text replaces old content.")
b) Append to file
with open("example.txt", "a") as file:
    file.write("
This text is added at the end.")
6. Using with Statement (Best Practice)
Using with automatically closes the file after use — even if an error occurs.
Example:
with open("example.txt", "r") as file:
    data = file.read()
# file is automatically closed here
Without with, you’d have to close it manually:
file = open("example.txt", "r")
data = file.read()
file.close()
7. Checking If File Exists (Optional)
You can check file existence before opening:
import os
if os.path.exists("example.txt"):
    print("File exists")
else:
    print("File not found")
8. Working with Binary Files
Example – writing and reading an image:
# Write binary
with open("image_copy.jpg", "wb") as file:
    with open("original.jpg", "rb") as source:
        file.write(source.read())
9. Deleting Files
import os
os.remove("example.txt")
10. Summary
Operation
Function/Method
Example
Open a file
open()
open("file.txt", "r")
Read file
read(), readline(), readlines()
file.read()
Write to file
write(), writelines()
file.write("text")
Close file
close()
file.close()
Check file exists
os.path.exists()
os.path.exists("file.txt")
Delete file
os.remove()
os.remove("file.txt")

Operation	Function/Method	Example
Open a file	`open()`	`open("file.txt", "r")`
Read file	`read()`, `readline()`, `readlines()`	`file.read()`
Write to file	`write()`, `writelines()`	`file.write("text")`
Close file	`close()`	`file.close()`
Check file exists	`os.path.exists()`	`os.path.exists("file.txt")`
Delete file	`os.remove()`	`os.remove("file.txt")`

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Explain the file Handling in Python.

Anubhav Kumar

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1 Answers

1. What Is File Handling?

2. Syntax of `open()`

Parameters:

3. File Modes

4. Reading Files

a) Read the whole file

b) Read line by line

c) Read first N characters

5. Writing to Files

a) Overwrite existing content

b) Append to file

6. Using `with` Statement (Best Practice)

7. Checking If File Exists (Optional)

8. Working with Binary Files

9. Deleting Files

10. Summary

Liked By

Mode	Meaning	Description
`'r'`	Read	Opens file for reading (default). Error if file doesn’t exist.
`'w'`	Write	Opens for writing, creates new file or overwrites existing one.
`'a'`	Append	Opens for writing, creates new file if missing, adds to end of file.
`'r+'`	Read & Write	Reads and writes, doesn’t truncate file.
`'w+'`	Write & Read	Overwrites existing file.
`'a+'`	Append & Read	Adds new data, can also read existing data.
`'x'`	Exclusive creation	Creates file; raises error if file exists.
`'b'`	Binary mode	For binary files (images, audio, etc.). Used as `'rb'`, `'wb'`, etc.
`'t'`	Text mode	Default mode for text files.