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Python Regular Expressions in Python Introduction to Regular Expressions Reading Files

Posted by vikas pal
vikas pal
11,563 Points

what's the difference in 'with' and '.open()'

Please see the video first before giving the answer so you can easily understand what i want to ask. In teachers note there is written that if we use "with" it causes the file to automatically close once the action inside of it finishes. So why we need to use it, to close file automatically.i can also do it by using open().for example:

names=open("names.txt")
data=names.read()
names.close()

so what difference this code made

with open("names.txt") as names:
  data=names.read()

please explain me briefly about it type everything what you know about it

vikas pal
vikas pal
11,563 Points

Kenneth Love

vikas pal
vikas pal
11,563 Points

Ken Alger

2 Answers

Kenneth Love
STAFF
Kenneth Love
Treehouse Guest Teacher
Kenneth Love
Kenneth Love
Treehouse Guest Teacher

The with gives you a context that'll end automatically and close the connection without you having to close it yourself. It's generally a better thing to use as it prevents you from forgetting and leaving lots of open connections sitting around.

Alexander Davison
Alexander Davison
65,469 Points
Alexander Davison
Alexander Davison
65,469 Points

Good question! They do the exact thing. I usually use "with" way, but when I'm dealing with LOTS of code, I use the open/closing method.