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Python language allows us to perform important disk input/output operations such as -

• Creating a new file on the disk.
• Reading the file stored on the disk.
• Writing data to the file stored on the disk.
• Appending new data to the end of the file stored on the disk.
• Modifying the content of the file stored on the disk.

• How to create and open a file?


In order to create and open a file, we could call the open() function of io module, which is a default module for performing file operations. Using the open() function, we could provide location of the file stored on the disk and in return(if the file is found), the open() function opens the file in a specific mode to let you perform a specific file operation and returns the file object to the opened file.

Let us take a look at a general syntax of open() function to open a file.



open('filename', mode);



• filename(a string), is the name of file on which we are going to open and perform file operations.
• mode(a string), is single or multiple file modes in which we are going to open a file.






• Calling the file constructor


Only for when you are working in Python version less than 3: An alternate way to create and open a file is by calling the file constructor i.e. file(). Using the file() constructor, we could provide location of the file stored on the disk and in return(if the file is found), it opens the file in a specific mode to let you perform a specific file operation and returns the file object to the opened file.

The syntax of file() constructor is the same as the open function.



file(filename, mode);



• filename, is the name(a string) of file on which we are going to open and perform file operations.
• mode(a string), is a single or multiple file modes in which we are going to open a file.

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File Modes

There is a specific file mode for every file operation. These file modes allow us to create, read, write, append or modify a file. Let's see all these different modes in which we could open a file on disk.

File Modes	Description
r	Searches for the file and opens it in read mode(default mode), if the file is found.
w	Searches for the file and opens it in write mode. If the file is found, its content are overwritten. If file is not found, a new file is created. Allows you to write to the file.
a	Searches for the file and opens it in append mode i.e. this mode allows you to append new data to the end of a file. If file is not found, a new file is created.
t	Searches for the file and opens the file(if the file is found) in a text mode(default mode) to perform text input/output file operations.
b	Searches for the file and opens the file(if the file is found) in a binary mode to perform binary input/output file operations.
+	Searches for the file, opens it to modify the content of a file by allowing both input and output operations on a file. Should be used in combination with either r, w or a mode.

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