3.12. Data Types: File Manipulation

3.12. Data Types: File Manipulation

File manipulation is an essential part of programming logic. It allows programs to interact with files on a file system, allowing them to read, write, create, and delete files. In this chapter, we will discuss the different data types used in file manipulation and how they are used.

Text Files and Binary Files

The two main types of files you will work with in programming are text files and binary files. Text files are simply files that contain human readable text. They can be opened and read in any text editor. Binary files, on the other hand, contain data that has been encoded in binary (zeros and ones) for use by a computer. They cannot be read directly by humans.

Text File Manipulation

Manipulation of text files is often performed using strings, which are a data type representing a sequence of characters. Most programming languages ​​have built-in functions for reading and writing strings to and from text files.

For example, in Python, you can use the open() function to open a text file and the read() or write() function to read or write data to the file. Here is an example:

file = open("example.txt", "r")
content = file.read()
file.close()

In this example, "example.txt" is the name of the file we want to open, "r" means we want to open the file for reading, and "content" is the variable in which we store the contents of the file.

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Binary File Manipulation

Manipulation of binary files is a little more complex, as it involves direct manipulation of bits and bytes. However, most programming languages ​​provide functions for dealing with binary files.

In Python, for example, you can use the "b" mode with the open() function to open a binary file, and the read() and write() functions to read and write binary data. Here is an example:

file = open("example.bin", "rb")
content = file.read()
file.close()

In this example, "example.bin" is the name of the file we want to open, "rb" means we want to open the file for binary reading, and "content" is the variable in which we store the contents of the file.

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Conclusion

File manipulation is a fundamental part of programming logic, allowing programs to interact with a computer's file system. By understanding the different types of data involved in manipulating files and how they are used, you can write more efficient and effective programs.

Whether you're reading or writing text files to store human-readable information or manipulating binary files to interact with data at a lower level, file manipulation is an essential skill for any programmer.

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