Python File Handling and Exception Handling Reference
By Engr Aamir Jamil
File Handling
Opening and Closing Files
python
# Method 1: Manual open/close (not recommended)
file = open("example.txt", "r")
content = file.read()
file.close()
# Method 2: Using 'with' statement (recommended)
with open("example.txt", "r") as file:
content = file.read()
# File automatically closed after 'with' block
File Opening Modes
python
# Reading modes
"r" # Read text file (default)
"rb" # Read binary file
# Writing modes
"w" # Write text file (overwrites existing)
"wb" # Write binary file
"a" # Append to text file
"ab" # Append to binary file
# Read and write
"r+" # Read and write
Reading Files
python
# Read entire file
with open("data.txt", "r") as file:
content = file.read()
print(content)
# Read line by line (memory efficient)
with open("data.txt", "r") as file:
for line in file:
print(line.strip()) # Remove newline characters
# Read all lines into a list
with open("data.txt", "r") as file:
lines = file.readlines()
print(lines)
# Read one line at a time
with open("data.txt", "r") as file:
first_line = file.readline()
second_line = file.readline()
Writing Files
python
# Write to file (overwrites existing content)
with open("output.txt", "w") as file:
file.write("Hello World!")
file.write("\nSecond line")
# Write multiple lines
lines = ["Line 1\n", "Line 2\n", "Line 3\n"]
with open("output.txt", "w") as file:
file.writelines(lines)
# Append to file
with open("log.txt", "a") as file:
file.write("\nNew log entry")
# Write using print function
with open("output.txt", "w") as file:
print("Hello", file=file)
print("World", file=file)
Basic File Operations Examples
python
# Copy file content
with open("source.txt", "r") as source:
with open("destination.txt", "w") as dest:
content = source.read()
dest.write(content)
# Count lines in file
with open("data.txt", "r") as file:
line_count = sum(1 for line in file)
print(f"File has {line_count} lines")
# Read and process CSV-like data
with open("students.csv", "r") as file:
for line in file:
data = line.strip().split(",")
name, age, grade = data
print(f"Student: {name}, Age: {age}, Grade: {grade}")
Exception Handling
Basic Try-Except
python
# Handle specific exception
try:
number = int(input("Enter a number: "))
result = 10 / number
print(f"Result: {result}")
except ValueError:
print("Please enter a valid number!")
except ZeroDivisionError:
print("Cannot divide by zero!")
Multiple Exceptions
python
# Handle multiple exception types
try:
age = int(input("Enter age: "))
result = 100 / age
print(f"Result: {result}")
except (ValueError, TypeError):
print("Invalid input type!")
except ZeroDivisionError:
print("Age cannot be zero!")
except Exception as e:
print(f"Unexpected error: {e}")
Try-Except-Else-Finally
python
try:
file = open("data.txt", "r")
content = file.read()
except FileNotFoundError:
print("File not found!")
content = None
else:
print("File read successfully!") # Runs if no exception
finally:
print("Cleanup completed") # Always runs
if 'file' in locals():
file.close()
File Handling with Exception Handling
python
# Reading file safely
def read_file_safe(filename):
try:
with open(filename, "r") as file:
return file.read()
except FileNotFoundError:
print(f"Error: '{filename}' not found")
return None
except PermissionError:
print(f"Error: Permission denied for '{filename}'")
return None
# Writing file safely
def write_file_safe(filename, data):
try:
with open(filename, "w") as file:
file.write(data)
print(f"Data written to '{filename}' successfully")
return True
except PermissionError:
print(f"Error: Cannot write to '{filename}'")
return False
except Exception as e:
print(f"Error writing file: {e}")
return False
# Usage
content = read_file_safe("example.txt")
if content:
processed_content = content.upper()
write_file_safe("output.txt", processed_content)
Common Exception Types
python
# ValueError - Invalid value
try:
number = int("abc")
except ValueError:
print("Cannot convert 'abc' to integer")
# TypeError - Wrong type
try:
result = "hello" + 5
except TypeError:
print("Cannot add string and integer")
# IndexError - Invalid index
try:
my_list = [1, 2, 3]
print(my_list[10])
except IndexError:
print("Index out of range")
# KeyError - Invalid dictionary key
try:
my_dict = {"name": "Aamir"}
print(my_dict["age"])
except KeyError:
print("Key 'age' not found in dictionary")
# FileNotFoundError - File doesn't exist
try:
with open("nonexistent.txt", "r") as file:
content = file.read()
except FileNotFoundError:
print("File not found")
Raising Custom Exceptions
python
# Raise exceptions manually
def validate_age(age):
if age < 0:
raise ValueError("Age cannot be negative")
if age > 150:
raise ValueError("Age too high")
return True
def divide_numbers(a, b):
if b == 0:
raise ZeroDivisionError("Division by zero not allowed")
return a / b
# Using custom validation
try:
age = int(input("Enter age: "))
validate_age(age)
print(f"Valid age: {age}")
except ValueError as e:
print(f"Invalid age: {e}")
Practical Examples
Simple File Processing
python
# Read numbers from file and calculate statistics
def process_numbers_file(filename):
try:
with open(filename, "r") as file:
numbers = []
for line_num, line in enumerate(file, 1):
try:
number = float(line.strip())
numbers.append(number)
except ValueError:
print(f"Warning: Invalid number at line {line_num}: '{line.strip()}'")
if numbers:
total = sum(numbers)
average = total / len(numbers)
return {
"count": len(numbers),
"sum": total,
"average": average,
"min": min(numbers),
"max": max(numbers)
}
else:
return None
except FileNotFoundError:
print(f"File '{filename}' not found")
return None
# Usage
stats = process_numbers_file("numbers.txt")
if stats:
print(f"Count: {stats['count']}")
print(f"Average: {stats['average']:.2f}")
Simple Student Records System
python
def add_student_record(filename, name, age, grade):
"""Add student record to file"""
try:
with open(filename, "a") as file:
file.write(f"{name},{age},{grade}\n")
print(f"Added record for {name}")
return True
except Exception as e:
print(f"Error adding record: {e}")
return False
def read_student_records(filename):
"""Read all student records"""
students = []
try:
with open(filename, "r") as file:
for line in file:
try:
name, age, grade = line.strip().split(",")
students.append({
"name": name,
"age": int(age),
"grade": grade
})
except ValueError:
print(f"Warning: Invalid record format: {line.strip()}")
continue
return students
except FileNotFoundError:
print(f"No records file found. Starting fresh.")
return []
def display_students(students):
"""Display student records"""
if not students:
print("No student records found")
return
print("\n=== Student Records ===")
for i, student in enumerate(students, 1):
print(f"{i}. {student['name']} - Age: {student['age']} - Grade: {student['grade']}")
# Usage
students_file = "students.txt"
# Add some records
add_student_record(students_file, "Alice Johnson", 20, "A")
add_student_record(students_file, "Bob Smith", 21, "B")
# Read and display
all_students = read_student_records(students_file)
display_students(all_students)
Input Validation with Exception Handling
python
def get_integer_input(prompt, min_val=None, max_val=None):
"""Get validated integer input from user"""
while True:
try:
value = int(input(prompt))
if min_val is not None and value < min_val:
print(f"Value must be at least {min_val}")
continue
if max_val is not None and value > max_val:
print(f"Value must be at most {max_val}")
continue
return value
except ValueError:
print("Please enter a valid integer!")
except KeyboardInterrupt:
print("\nOperation cancelled by user")
return None
def get_file_input(prompt):
"""Get validated file path from user"""
while True:
try:
filename = input(prompt).strip()
if not filename:
print("Filename cannot be empty!")
continue
# Test if file can be opened
with open(filename, "r") as file:
pass # Just test opening
return filename
except FileNotFoundError:
print(f"File '{filename}' not found. Please try again.")
except PermissionError:
print(f"Permission denied for '{filename}'. Please try again.")
except KeyboardInterrupt:
print("\nOperation cancelled by user")
return None
# Usage
age = get_integer_input("Enter your age (0-120): ", 0, 120)
if age is not None:
print(f"Your age is {age}")
filename = get_file_input("Enter filename to read: ")
if filename:
print(f"Will process file: {filename}")
Quick Reference
File Operations
Read: with open("file.txt", "r") as f: content = f.read()
Write: with open("file.txt", "w") as f: f.write("text")
Append: with open("file.txt", "a") as f: f.write("text")
Exception Handling Structure
python
try:
# Code that might raise exception
pass
except SpecificException:
# Handle specific exception
pass
except Exception as e:
# Handle any other exception
pass
else:
# Runs if no exception occurred
pass
finally:
# Always runs (cleanup code)
pass
Common Exceptions
FileNotFoundError: File doesn't exist
PermissionError: No permission to access file
ValueError: Invalid value conversion
TypeError: Wrong data type
IndexError: Invalid list/string index
KeyError: Invalid dictionary key
ZeroDivisionError: Division by zero
Best Practices
Always use with statement for file operations
Handle specific exceptions before general ones
Use descriptive error messages
Don't ignore exceptions silently
Close files properly (automatic with with statement)
Handle files and exceptions safely for robust Python programs
