File Handling and Exceptions – Python Notes
1. Reading/Writing Text Files
Definition: A text file stores data in readable text format. Python allows opening,
reading, writing, and appending text files using the open() function.
Modes: r – read, w – write (overwrites existing content), a – append (adds data to end),
b – binary mode, x – create new file (error if exists).
Read operations: [Link]() – reads entire file, [Link]() – reads one line, [Link]() –
returns list of lines.
Write operations: [Link]('Hello'), [Link](['a\n','b\n']).
With statement ensures automatic closing of file.
Example:
with open('[Link]', 'w') as f:
[Link]('Hello World')
with open('[Link]', 'r') as f:
print([Link]())
2. CSV Files
Definition: CSV (Comma Separated Values) files store tabular data in plain text, where
each line represents a row.
Use csv module: import csv.
Writing: [Link]([...]) writes a single row, [Link]([...]) writes
multiple rows.
Reading: for row in reader: print(row).
Example:
import csv
with open('[Link]', 'w', newline='') as f:
writer = [Link](f)
[Link](['Name','Age'])
[Link](['Alice',22])
with open('[Link]', 'r') as f:
reader = [Link](f)
for row in reader:
print(row)
3. JSON Files
Definition: JSON (JavaScript Object Notation) is a lightweight format for storing and
transferring data in key-value pairs.
Use json module: import json.
Writing: [Link](data, f) writes JSON data into a file.
Reading: obj = [Link](f) reads JSON data into a Python dictionary.
Example:
import json
data = {'name':'Alice','age':22}
with open('[Link]','w') as f:
[Link](data,f)
with open('[Link]','r') as f:
obj = [Link](f)
print(obj['name'])
4. Binary Files
Definition: Binary files store data in raw binary format (0s and 1s) instead of plain text.
Writing: with open('[Link]','wb') as f: [Link](b'Hello Binary').
Reading: with open('[Link]','rb') as f: print([Link]()).
Example:
with open('[Link]','wb') as f:
[Link](b'Python Binary Data')
with open('[Link]','rb') as f:
print([Link]())
5. Exception Handling
Definition: Exception handling ensures a program can catch and respond to errors
without crashing.
Syntax: try block (risky code), except block (handles errors), else block (executes if no
errors), finally block (always executes).
Custom Exceptions: class MyError(Exception): pass allows creating user-defined errors.
Example:
try:
x = int('abc')
except ValueError as e:
print('Error:', e)
else:
print('No error occurred')
finally:
print('Execution finished')
6. Directory Traversal & File Automation
Definition: Python provides modules to manage files and directories automatically.
os module: [Link]() – get current directory, [Link]() – list files, [Link]() – create
folder, [Link]() – delete file.
shutil module: [Link]() – copy file, [Link]() – move file.
glob module: [Link]('*.txt') – list all files with .txt extension.
Example:
import os, shutil, glob
print([Link]())
[Link]('testdir')
with open('[Link]','w') as f:
[Link]('Sample')
[Link]('[Link]','[Link]')
print([Link]('*.txt'))
7. Case Study: Log File Analyzer with Error Handling
Definition: A log analyzer scans server log files and extracts useful information such as
errors.
Explanation: The script opens a log file, searches for lines containing 'ERROR', counts
and displays them.
It handles errors like FileNotFoundError, PermissionError, and other unexpected issues
using exception handling.
Example:
import os
def analyze_log(file_path):
try:
with open(file_path,'r') as f:
errors=[line for line in f if 'ERROR' in line]
print('Total Errors:',len(errors))
for e in errors:
print([Link]())
except FileNotFoundError:
print('Log file not found.')
except PermissionError:
print('Permission denied.')
except Exception as e:
print('Unexpected error:', e)
else:
print('Log analysis completed.')
finally:
print('Process finished.')
analyze_log('[Link]')
