Python open() Function

Open a file and print the content:

f = open("demofile.txt", "r")
print(f.read())

Definition and Usage

The open() function opens a file, and returns it as a file object.

Read more about file handling in our chapters about File Handling.

open(file, mode)

Parameter Description

file The path and name of the file

Parameter	Description
file	The path and name of the file
mode	A string, define which mode you want to open the file in: `"r"` - Read - Default value. Opens a file for reading, error if the file does not exist `"a"` - Append - Opens a file for appending, creates the file if it does not exist `"w"` - Write - Opens a file for writing, creates the file if it does not exist `"x"` - Create - Creates the specified file, returns an error if the file exist In addition you can specify if the file should be handled as binary or text mode `"t"` - Text - Default value. Text mode `"b"` - Binary - Binary mode (e.g. images)

mode

A string, define which mode you want to open the file in:

"r" - Read - Default value. Opens a file for reading, error if the file does not exist

"a" - Append - Opens a file for appending, creates the file if it does not exist

"w" - Write - Opens a file for writing, creates the file if it does not exist

"x" - Create - Creates the specified file, returns an error if the file exist

In addition you can specify if the file should be handled as binary or text mode

"t" - Text - Default value. Text mode

"b" - Binary - Binary mode (e.g. images)

Learn how to open files in our Read Files Tutorial

Learn how to write/create files in our Write/Create Files Tutorial

Learn how to delete files in our Delete Files Tutorial