Which method is used to sets the position of a file pointer?a)tell()b)...
Concept:
The seek() method :
This method is used to position the file object at a particular position in a file.
The syntax of seek() is:
file_object.seek(offset [ , reference_point])
In the above syntax, offset is the number of bytes by which the file object is to be moved. reference_point indicates the starting position of the file object. That is, with reference to which position, the offset has to be counted.
- It can have any of the following values:
- 0 - beginning of the file
- 1 - current position of the file
- 2 - end of file
- By default, the value of reference_point is 0, i.e. the offset is counted from the beginning of the file.
Hence the correct answer is seek().
Which method is used to sets the position of a file pointer?a)tell()b)...
Setting the Position of a File Pointer
Setting the position of a file pointer is a crucial operation when working with files in programming. One method used to accomplish this task is the `seek()` function.
Functionality of `seek()`
- The `seek()` function is used to set the position of the file pointer within a file.
- It allows the programmer to navigate through a file and move the pointer to a specific location.
Parameters of `seek()`
- The `seek()` function typically takes two parameters: the offset and the origin.
- The offset specifies the number of bytes to move the pointer.
- The origin determines the reference point for the offset, which can be the beginning of the file, the current position, or the end of the file.
Example Usage
```python
file = open("example.txt", "r")
file.seek(0, 0) # Set the pointer to the beginning of the file
data = file.read()
print(data)
file.close()
```
Advantages of Using `seek()`
- Precision: `seek()` allows for precise positioning of the file pointer.
- Flexibility: It provides flexibility in navigating through files based on the programmer's requirements.
In conclusion, the `seek()` function is a crucial method for setting the position of a file pointer in programming. By understanding how to use this function effectively, programmers can efficiently work with files and access specific data within them.