Python is a high-level programming language that is used for web development, scientific computing, data analysis, artificial intelligence, and more. One of the most basic functions of any programming language is the ability to create and write to a text file. In this article, we will explore how to create and write to a text file using the Python programming language.
Creating a Text File in Python
To create a text file in Python, we can use the built-in function `open()`. The `open()` function takes two arguments: the name of the file and the mode in which we want to open the file. The mode can be `’r’` for read-only, `’w’` for write-only, `’a’` for append, or `’x’` for exclusive creation.
Example 1: Creating a Text File
Let’s create a new text file called `example.txt` in write mode: “`python file = open(‘example.txt’, ‘w’) “` This creates a new file called `example.txt` in write mode. If the file already exists, it will be overwritten.
Example 2: Writing to a Text File
To write to a text file in Python, we can use the `write()` method. The `write()` method takes one argument: the string we want to write to the file. “`python file.write(‘Hello, World!’) “` This writes the string `’Hello, World!’` to the file.
Closing a Text File in Python
After we are done working with a text file, it is important to close the file to free up system resources. We can use the `close()` method to close a text file in Python. “`python file.close() “` This closes the text file and frees up system resources.
Example 3: Writing Multiple Lines to a Text File
Let’s write multiple lines of text to a text file using a loop: “`python file = open(‘example.txt’, ‘w’) for i in range(10): file.write(‘This is line %d\n’ % (i+1)) file.close() “` This creates a new file called `example.txt` in write mode and writes ten lines of text to the file.
Reading from a Text File in Python
To read from a text file in Python, we can use the `read()` method. The `read()` method reads the entire contents of the file and returns it as a string.
Example 4: Reading from a Text File
Let’s read the contents of the `example.txt` file we created earlier: “`python file = open(‘example.txt’, ‘r’) contents = file.read() print(contents) file.close() “` This opens the `example.txt` file in read mode, reads its contents into the `contents` variable, prints the contents to the console, and then closes the file.
Appending to a Text File in Python
To append to a text file in Python, we can use the `append()` mode when opening the file.
Example 5: Appending to a Text File
Let’s append a new line of text to the `example.txt` file we created earlier: “`python file = open(‘example.txt’, ‘a’) file.write(‘This is a new line\n’) file.close() “` This opens the `example.txt` file in append mode, appends a new line of text to the file, and then closes the file.
In this article, we have explored how to create and write to a text file using the Python programming language. We have also looked at how to read from and append to a text file. With these basic file I/O operations, you can create and manipulate text files in your Python programs.
