Last Updated : 27 Feb, 2024
We are given a file and we have to check whether the file is readable in Python or not. In this article, we will see how we can check if a file is readable or not by using different approaches in Python.
How to Check if a File is Readable in Python
Below, are the methods of How to Check If a File Is Readable in Python:
Check if a File is Readable in Python Using os Module
In this example, below Python code below uses the Python OS Module to check if the file “file.txt” is readable. If the file is readable (`os.R_OK`), it prints “File is readable”; otherwise, it prints “File is not readable.” The `os.access` function helps ensure proper file accessibility.
Python3
import os
file_path = "file.txt"
if os.access(file_path, os.R_OK):
print("File is readable")
else:
print("File is not readable")
Output:
File is readable
Check if a File is Readable in Python Using Try Except Block
In this example, below Python code attempts to open and perform operations on the file “file.txt”. If successful, it prints “The File is readable”. If an IOError occurs (e.g., file not found or permission denied), it prints “Error: File is not readable”. This try-except block ensures proper handling of potential file accessibility issues.
Python3
# file path
file_path = "file.txt"
try:
# We try to open the file and perform operations on it.
with open(file_path) as file:
# print a message indicating that the file is readable.
print("The File is readable")
# If an IOError occurs (e.g., file not found or permission denied),
except IOError:
# Print an error message indicating that the file is not readable.
print("Error: File is not readable")
Output:
File is readable
Check if a File is Readable in Python Using os.path.isfile() Module
In this example, below Python code checks if the file “file.txt” exists and is readable using `os.path.isfile` and `os.access`. If both conditions are met, it prints “File is readable.” Otherwise, if the file does not exist or is not readable, it prints “File is not readable.” This ensures a robust check for file accessibility before attempting further operations.
Python3
# path of the file
file_path = "file.txt"
# Check if the file exists and is readable.
if os.path.isfile(file_path) and os.access(file_path, os.R_OK):
# If the file exists and is readable, print a message that the file is readable.
print("File is readable")
else:
# If the file does not exist or is not readable, print a message that the file is not readable.
print("File is not readable")
Output:
File is readable
Conclusion
In conclusion, ensuring a file is readable is essential when working with files in Python. Checking readability before attempting to read enhances code reliability and overall performance. By employing the discussed methods, Python developers gain the ability to make informed choices regarding file accessibility. This, in turn, minimizes the risk of errors during runtime, fostering the development of stronger, more resilient applications.
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FAQs
Check if a File is Readable in Python Using Try Except Block
How to check if a file is readable in Python? ›
Python File readable() Method
The readable() method returns True if the file is readable, False if not.
How do I check if a file exists in Python read? ›
How to Check if a File Exists in Python Using:
- os. path. exists() ...
- os. path. isfile() ...
- os. path. isdir() ...
- pathlibPath. exists() The Python Pathlib module contains a number of classes that describe file system paths and have semantics that are acceptable for various operating systems.
How To Check A File Is Opened Or Closed In Python? We can use the `closed` property on the file object. It returns `True` if the file is closed; otherwise, it returns False.
What does read() do in Python? ›
Here are some of the functions in Python that allow you to read and write to files: read() : This function reads the entire file and returns a string. readline() : This function reads lines from that file and returns as a string. It fetch the line n, if it is been called nth time.
How to make a file readable in Python? ›
Python provides a built-in function that helps us open files in different modes. The open() function accepts two essential parameters: the file name and the mode; the default mode is 'r' , which opens the file for reading only. The modes define how we can access a file and how we can manipulate its content.
How to check if a file is writable in Python? ›
Python File writable() Method
The writable() method returns True if the file is writable, False if not. A file is writable if it is opened using "a" for append or "w" for write.
How to check if a file exists in Python if not creating it? ›
How to Check if a File Exists in Python
- Three Methods to Check If a File Exists in Python.
- Prerequisites: Understanding the current directory.
- Method 1: Using the os.path.exists() function.
- Method 2: Using the pathlib.Path.exists() function.
- Method 3: Using the try-except block with file opening.
To check if a file contains a particular string the only thing to do is to open the file, read it into memory and check.
- def in_file(filenane, substring):
- “””Return True if substring is contained with the named file”””
- with open(filenane, 'r') as fp:
- data = fp.read()
- return substring in data.
Python Search for a String in Text Files
- If a file is small, read it into a string and use the find() method to check if a string or word is present in a file. ( ...
- If a file is large, use the mmap to search a string in a file. ...
- Search a string in multiple files.
- Search file for a list of strings.
While working and interacting with file systems in Python, checking the permissions of a directory is an essential and necessary task. By using the os. access() and os. stat() functions from the os module, you can easily find the read, write, and execute permissions of a directory.
How do I check if a file exists in Python notebook? ›
Use os. path. isfile() , os. path. isdir() , or os. path. exists()
- path. isfile(path) : returns True if the path is a valid file.
- path. isdir(path) : returns True if the path is a valid directory.
- path. exists(path) : returns True if the path is a valid file or directory.
To check if an existing file is executable, use os. access(path, mode), with the os. X_OK mode. Value to include in the mode parameter of access() to determine if path can be executed.
How to read .txt file in Python? ›
In Python, you can use the open() function to read the . txt files. Notice that the open() function takes two input parameters: file path (or file name if the file is in the current working directory) and the file access mode.
Which function is used to read a file in Python? ›
The open() python is used to open a file in either the write mode or the read mode. We use the open() function with two arguments, the file name and the mode, whether to read or write, to return a file object.
What is the difference between open () and read ()? ›
open gives the interpreter access to the file. read returns the content of the file.
How do I check file properties in Python? ›
scandir() in Python 3. os. scandir() is the preferred method to use if you also want to get file and directory properties such as file size and modification date.
