Python File Handling: A Comprehensive Guide to file.write() Method

In this tutorial, we will delve into the Python method file.write(). This function is an integral part of Python’s file handling capabilities. It allows you to write data into a file.

Usage of file.write()

The syntax for using the write() method in Python is as follows:


<file object>.write(string)


This function writes the contents of string to the file. Thereafter, it returns the number of characters written.

Walkthrough

1. Firstly, open a file in write mode (‘w’) or append mode (‘a’). If the specified file does not exist, Python will create it.

file = open('example.txt', 'w')

2. Next, use the write() method to add text to the file.

file.write("Hello World!")

3. Finally, always remember to close your files after writing to prevent memory leaks and ensure that all changes are saved properly.

file.close()

Note:

• If you open a pre-existing file in ‘w’ mode, its content will be erased before new data is written. To avoid this, use ‘a’ mode which appends data at end of the existing content.

An Example of Proper Usage

Here is a simple example of how to use the file.write() method:

        # Open the file in write mode
        file = open('example.txt', 'w')

        # Write some text to the file
        file.write("Hello, Python learners!")

        # Close the file
        file.close()
    

After running this code, you will have a new text file named ‘example.txt’ in your directory. The content of this text file will be “Hello, Python learners!”.

Conclusion

The Python’s built-in function, write(), is an essential tool for writing data into files. It’s important to remember that after using it, always close your files with the close() method.