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Whether you’re a seasoned developer or just starting your coding journey, understanding how to manipulate files is a fundamental skill in Python. From reading data stored in files to writing new information, mastering file handling opens up a world of possibilities for your projects.
In this guide, we’ll explore the basics of opening files in Python and provide straightforward examples to get you started.
Why File Handling Matters
Before diving into the code, let’s understand why file handling is essential. In many real-world applications, data is stored in files: text files, CSV files, JSON files, and more. Being able to access and modify this data programmatically gives you the power to automate tasks, analyze information, and create dynamic applications.
Opening a File
Python provides a simple built-in function to open files: open()
. This function takes two parameters: the file name (or path) and the mode in which you want to open the file. The mode determines whether you want to read from the file, write to it, or both.