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Reading files in Python is a fundamental skill that every developer should master. Whether you’re extracting data from text files, processing CSV files, or parsing JSON documents, knowing how to efficiently read files is essential.
In this beginner-friendly guide, we’ll explore the basics of file reading in Python and provide you with straightforward examples to help you get started.
Why File Reading Matters
Before we dive into the code, let’s understand why file reading is crucial. In real-world scenarios, data is often stored in files, ranging from simple text files to more complex formats like CSV and JSON. Being able to read and manipulate this data programmatically allows you to automate tasks, perform data analysis, and build robust applications.
Opening a File for Reading
In Python, the open() function is used to open files. To read data from a file, you need to specify the file name (or path) and the mode in which you want to open the file. The mode 'r' indicates that you want to open the file in read-only mode.
