Understanding read() vs readlines() in Python

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When working with files in Python, two commonly used methods for reading data are read() and readlines(). While they might seem similar at first glance, they serve different purposes and operate differently. In this post, we’ll break down the differences, use cases, and best practices for each method.

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What is read()?

The read() method reads the entire content of a file and returns it as a single string.

Syntax:

file.read(size=-1)

size (optional): Specifies the number of characters to read. By default, or if set to -1, it reads the entire file.

Example:

with open("example.txt", "r") as file:
    content = file.read()
    print(content)

Output (if example.txt contains the following):

Hello, World!
This is a sample file.

Use Case:

• Use read() when you need to process the entire file as a single string, such as for searching or performing transformations on the full content.