Read a file in Python

Use the function open() to open the file.

A file object with a method read() is the function open() returns, allowing you to read the contents of the file:

f = open("fichierdemo.txt", "r")
print(f.read())

Read part of the file

The read() returns the full file, you can specify the maximum number of characters to read.

f = open("fichierdemo.txt", "r")
print(f.read(10))

A single line can be read using the method readline().

f = open("fichierdemo.txt", "r")
print(f.readline())

In this example the program returns only the first line of the file. If you want to read the second line just add a second time f.readline().

If you want to browse all the lines, here's how:

f = open("fichierdemo.txt", "r")
for x in f:
print(x)

After reading, it is recommended to close the file, just add the statement f.close() at the end of the programme.