Files in Python Opening and Closing

Big Picture To use a file in a programming language – You have to open the file – Then you process the data in the file – Then you close the file when you are done with it This is true for input files or output files

Opening a file To use a file, you first have to open it in Python the syntax is infile = open(“xyz.txt”, “r”) # for input (read) or outfile = open(“mydata.txt”, “w”) # for output It creates a link between that variable name in the program and the file known to the OS

Processing in general Processing is general term In Python there are at least 4 ways to read from an input file And two ways to write to an output file They all use loops in one way or another See other talks for details

Closing a file When you are finished with the file (usually when you are at the end of the data if it is input) You close the file In Python the syntax is infile.close() Works for input or output files Note: no arguments but you MUST have () !! Otherwise the function is not actually called!