When working with Python, there may be times when you need to add text into a text file. This could be useful for tasks such as generating reports, logging data, or creating configuration files. In this article, we will explore three different ways to accomplish this task.

Option 1: Using the write() method

The first option is to use the write() method provided by the built-in open() function. This method allows you to write text directly into a file. Here’s an example:

# Open the file in write mode
file = open("example.txt", "w")

# Write text into the file
file.write("Hello, World!")

# Close the file
file.close()

This code snippet opens a file named “example.txt” in write mode, writes the text “Hello, World!” into it, and then closes the file. The write() method overwrites any existing content in the file, so be careful when using it.

Option 2: Using the append mode

If you want to add text to an existing file without overwriting its content, you can use the append mode. This mode is specified by passing “a” as the second argument to the open() function. Here’s an example:

# Open the file in append mode
file = open("example.txt", "a")

# Write text into the file
file.write("This is additional text.")

# Close the file
file.close()

This code snippet opens the file “example.txt” in append mode, writes the text “This is additional text.” into it, and then closes the file. The append mode ensures that the new text is added to the end of the file, preserving any existing content.

Option 3: Using the with statement

The third option is to use the with statement, which automatically takes care of closing the file for you. This is considered a best practice as it ensures that the file is properly closed, even if an exception occurs. Here’s an example:

# Open the file in write mode using the with statement
with open("example.txt", "w") as file:
    # Write text into the file
    file.write("Hello, World!")

This code snippet opens the file “example.txt” in write mode using the with statement. The write() method is called within the with block, and the file is automatically closed when the block is exited. This ensures that the file is properly closed, even if an exception occurs.

After exploring these three options, it is clear that using the with statement is the best approach. It provides a cleaner and more concise syntax, while also ensuring that the file is properly closed. This helps to prevent resource leaks and potential issues with file handling.