How to Read One Word From a Text File in Python

In Python, there are a few ways you can read a text file.

In this commodity, I will go over the open() role, the read(), readline(), readlines(), shut() methods, and the with keyword.

What is the open up() function in Python?

If you want to read a text file in Python, you offset have to open it.

This is the basic syntax for Python'south open() function:

                open up("proper name of file you want opened", "optional mode")              

File names and correct paths

If the text file and your electric current file are in the same directory ("folder"), then you can but reference the file name in the open() part.

                open("demo.txt")              

Here is an case of both files being in the same directory:

If your text file is in a dissimilar directory, then you will demand to reference the right path name for the text file.

In this example, the random-text file is within a unlike binder then main.py:

In order to admission that file in the main.py, y'all have to include the binder name with the proper name of the file.

                open up("text-files/random-text.txt")              

If you don't have the correct path for the file, then you will go an error message like this:

                open("random-text.txt")              

It is really important to continue runway of which directory y'all are in then you lot tin reference the correct path name.

Optional Mode parameter in open()

In that location are different modes when you are working with files. The default manner is the read mode.

The letter r stands for read mode.

                open("demo.txt", mode="r")              

You tin too omit mode= and merely write "r".

                open("demo.txt", "r")              

There are other types of modes such as "w" for writing or "a" for appending.  I am not going to get into item for the other modes because nosotros are just going to focus on reading files.

For a complete list of the other modes, please read through the documentation.

Additional parameters for the open() function in Python

The open() role can have in these optional parameters.

• buffering
• encoding
• errors
• newline
• closefd
• opener

To learn more nigh these optional parameters, please read through the documentation.

What is the readable() method in Python?

If you want to check if a file can be read, so you lot tin use the readable() method. This volition return a True or Fake.

This example would render Truthful considering we are in the read manner:

                file = open up("demo.txt") impress(file.readable())              

If I changed this example, to "w" (write) manner, and so the readable() method would render False:

                file = open("demo.txt", "west") print(file.readable())              

What is the read() method in Python?

The read() method is going to read all of the content of the file as i cord. This is a good method to utilize if you don't have a lot of content in the text file.

In this example, I am using the read() method to print out a listing of names from the demo.txt file:

                file = open up("demo.txt") print(file.read())              

This method can accept in an optional parameter called size. Instead of reading the whole file, only a portion of information technology will exist read.

If we modify the before case, we can impress out only the first word by adding the number 4 as an statement for read().

                file = open up("demo.txt") print(file.read(four))              

If the size argument is omitted, or if the number is negative, then the whole file will be read.

What is the close() method in Python?

In one case you are washed reading a file, it is important that you close information technology. If you lot forget to shut your file, then that tin can cause issues.

This is an case of how to close the demo.txt file:

                file = open("demo.txt") print(file.read()) file.close()              

How to utilise the with keyword to close files in Python

One way to ensure that your file is closed is to use the with keyword. This is considered expert practice, because the file will shut automatically instead of you having to manually close it.

Here is how to rewrite our case using the with keyword:

                with open("demo.txt") as file:     print(file.read())              

What is the readline() method in Python?

This method is going to read one line from the file and return that.

In this instance, we have a text file with these 2 sentences:

                This is the first line This is the second line              

If we use the readline() method, it will only print the first sentence of the file.

                with open("demo.txt") as file:     impress(file.readline())              

This method also takes in the optional size parameter. We can change the example to add the number 7 to just read and print out This is:

                with open up("demo.txt") equally file:     print(file.readline(7))              

What is the readlines() method in Python?

This method will read and return a list of all of the lines in the file.

In this case, we are going to impress out our grocery items as a listing using the readlines() method.

                with open up("demo.txt") as file:     print(file.readlines())              

How to use a for loop to read lines from a file in Python

An alternative to these unlike read methods would be to apply a for loop.

In this example, we tin can print out all of the items in the demo.txt file by looping over the object.

                with open up("demo.txt") as file:     for detail in file:         impress(particular)              

Conclusion

If you desire to read a text file in Python, you first have to open up information technology.

                open("name of file you lot desire opened", "optional mode")                              

If the text file and your current file are in the same directory ("binder"), then you can just reference the file name in the open() function.

If your text file is in a different directory, then you lot will demand to reference the correct path name for the text file.

The open() function takes in the optional mode parameter. The default manner is the read fashion.

                open("demo.txt", "r")              

If you lot want to check if a file can exist read, then you tin use the readable() method. This will return a True or False.

                file.readable()              

The read() method is going to read all of the content of the file as one string.

                file.read()              

Once you are done reading a file, it is of import that you close it. If you forget to close your file, and then that can cause issues.

                file.shut()              

1 way to ensure that your file is closed is to use the with keyword.

                with open("demo.txt") as file:     print(file.read())              

The readline() method is going to read one line from the file and return that.

                file.readline()              

The readlines() method volition read and return a listing of all of the lines in the file.

                file.readlines()              

An alternative to these different read methods would be to utilize a for loop.

                with open up("demo.txt") as file:     for item in file:         impress(particular)              

I hope you lot enjoyed this article and best of luck on your Python journeying.

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