Working with text files is a fundamental task in many Python applications. Whether you're processing large data files, reading configuration files, or analyzing log files, understanding how to read text files efficiently is essential.

In this article, we'll dive into the world of file handling in Python and explore different techniques to read text files with ease. By the end, you'll be equipped with the knowledge to read and extract data from text files using Python.

Reading Files Using with Context Manager

Python provides a convenient way to handle file opening and closing using context managers. It ensures that the file is closed automatically, even in case of exceptions. Here's an example:

with open('example.txt') as file:
    lines = file.readlines()

Python offers the with statement, which acts as a context manager and simplifies the process of file handling. The with statement ensures that the file is properly opened and closed, even if exceptions occur during the file operations.

It automatically takes care of resource management and cleanup, making the code more readable and reducing the risk of resource leaks. 

Inside the with block, you can perform various file operations, such as reading or writing data. Once the block is exited, the file will be automatically closed, freeing up system resources.

Using the with statement and the context manager approach ensures that files are handled correctly and that any errors or exceptions are gracefully handled, promoting cleaner and more robust code.

Opening a File without a Context Manager

To open and close a text file in Python, use the open() function along with the close()

try:
    file = open("example.txt", "r")
    # Perform operations on the file
except FileNotFoundError:
    print("File not found.")
except PermissionError:
    print("Permission denied.")
finally:
    file.close()