File Modes in Python
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This lesson teaches the different modes used when opening files in Python.
What are File Modes?
File modes tell Python how a file should be opened and what operations are allowed on that file.
Using file modes, we can:
Read data from a file
Write data to a file
Append data to a file
Work with text or binary files
Syntax for File Modes
file = open("filename", "mode")
Example:
file = open("data.txt", "r")
Types of File Modes in Python
Python supports text modes and binary modes.
1️.Text File Modes
Text mode is the default mode in Python.
r – Read Mode
Purpose:
Opens file for reading
File must exist
Cursor starts at beginning
Syntax:
open("file.txt", "r")
Reading File Using Read Mode
Reads and displays file content.
file = open("data.txt", "r")
print(file.read())
file.close()
w – Write Mode
Purpose:
Opens file for writing
Overwrites existing content
Creates new file if not exists
Old data will be deleted.
Syntax:
open("file.txt", "w")
Writing Data Using Write Mode
Writes new text into file.
file = open("data.txt", "w")
file.write("Welcome to Python")
file.close()a – Append Mode
Purpose:
Adds data at end of file
Does not delete old content
Creates file if not exists
Syntax:
open("file.txt", "a")
Appending Data Using Append Mode
Adds new content without removing old data.
file = open("data.txt", "a")
file.write("\nThis is appended text")
file.close()x – Exclusive Creation Mode
Purpose:
Creates a new file
Throws error if file already exists
Syntax:
open("file.txt", "x")
Creating File Using x Mode
Creates a file only if it does not exist.
file = open("newfile.txt", "x")
file.write("New file created")
file.close()
2️.Read & Write Combined Modes
r+ – Read and Write Mode
Purpose:
Read and write both
File must exist
Cursor at beginning
open("file.txt", "r+")
w+ – Write and Read Mode
Purpose:
Write + read
Deletes old content
Creates file if not exists
open("file.txt", "w+")
a+ – Append and Read Mode
Purpose:
Append + read
Cursor at end
Old data remains safe
open("file.txt", "a+")
3️.Binary File Modes
Binary modes are used for:
Images
Audio files
Videos
PDFs
rb – Read Binary
open("image.jpg", "rb")
wb – Write Binary
open("image.jpg", "wb")
ab – Append Binary
open("image.jpg", "ab")
Reading Binary File
Reads binary data from image file.
file = open("photo.jpg", "rb")
data = file.read()
file.close()
Summary Table of File Modes