What is the difference between opening a file in text format and binary format in Python?
In Python, when opening a file, you can choose between two modes: text mode and binary mode. The key difference between these modes is how the data is read from and written to the file.
- Text mode:
When you open a file in text mode (default mode), the data is read and written as strings (Unicode) in a platform-independent format. Python automatically converts line endings to the appropriate format for the platform when reading and writing data. To open a file in text mode, you can use the mode 'r' for reading, 'w' for writing, or 'a' for appending.
Example:
with open("example.txt", "r") as file:
content = file.read()
- Binary mode:
When you open a file in binary mode, the data is read and written as bytes, and no conversion or encoding/decoding is performed. This mode is suitable for working with non-text files, such as images or executables. To open a file in binary mode, you need to add a 'b' to the mode, like 'rb' for reading, 'wb' for writing, or 'ab' for appending.
Example:
with open("example.bin", "rb") as file:
content = file.read()
In summary, the main differences between opening a file in text format and binary format are:
- Text mode reads and writes data as strings (Unicode) and handles line ending conversions, while binary mode reads and writes data as bytes without any conversion.
- Text mode is suitable for working with text files, while binary mode is suitable for working with non-text files like images or executables.
- To open a file in binary mode, you need to add a 'b' to the file mode ('rb', 'wb', or 'ab'), while text mode uses 'r', 'w', or 'a'.
