Python - 22

Python - 22: Reading & Writing Files

Python programs can save information to files and read it again later. In this browser course, we'll simulate a text file using a string variable.

Your challenge: Add several lines of text, split them into separate items, and loop through the saved information.

Simulate writing data

The variable notes acts like the contents of a small text file.

The characters \n mean “start a new line.”

For example: notes = notes + "Learn Python\n"

Split the saved text

notes.split("\n") breaks the string wherever a new-line character appears and creates a list of lines.

Read each line

Use a for loop to visit each item in the list. The final empty line can be skipped with: if line != "":

Try it: Add two more notes and see how they appear when the program reads the saved text.

Good Python habit: Keep file-related data organized one line at a time when each line represents a separate item.

Note: This browser lesson simulates file storage. In regular Python outside the browser, files are commonly opened with tools such as open(), read(), and write().

notes = ""

notes = notes + "Buy milk\n"
notes = notes + "Learn Python\n"
notes = notes + "Build a small project\n"

print("Saved Notes:")
print(notes)

lines = notes.split("\n")

print("Reading Notes:")

for line in lines:

    if line != "":
        print(line)