What is File Handling?
File handling in C refers to the process of creating, opening, reading, writing, and closing files on disk using C programs.
In C, there are two main types of files you will encounter: text files and binary files. Text files store data in a human-readable format, using characters such as letters, numbers, and symbols.
These files are commonly used for storing configuration data, logs, or any information that needs to be easily read or edited by people. Binary files, on the other hand, store data in the same format as it is represented in memory, using raw bytes. This makes them more suitable for storing non-text data, like images, audio, or program-specific data structures, where efficiency and exact representation are important.
Text files contain data encoded as readable characters, typically using ASCII or UTF-8 encoding. Each line in a text file ends with a newline character. They are ideal for storing information that will be read or edited by people, such as logs, configuration files, or CSV data.
Binary files store data in a compact, non-human-readable format, using the same internal representation as in computer memory. These files are efficient for storing complex data structures, media files, or any data where exact byte-for-byte accuracy is required.
Storing data only in memory means that all information is lost when your program ends or the computer is turned off. Using files allows you to keep data for future use, making your programs much more useful and practical.
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File handling in C refers to the process of creating, opening, reading, writing, and closing files on disk using C programs.
In C, there are two main types of files you will encounter: text files and binary files. Text files store data in a human-readable format, using characters such as letters, numbers, and symbols.
These files are commonly used for storing configuration data, logs, or any information that needs to be easily read or edited by people. Binary files, on the other hand, store data in the same format as it is represented in memory, using raw bytes. This makes them more suitable for storing non-text data, like images, audio, or program-specific data structures, where efficiency and exact representation are important.
Text files contain data encoded as readable characters, typically using ASCII or UTF-8 encoding. Each line in a text file ends with a newline character. They are ideal for storing information that will be read or edited by people, such as logs, configuration files, or CSV data.
Binary files store data in a compact, non-human-readable format, using the same internal representation as in computer memory. These files are efficient for storing complex data structures, media files, or any data where exact byte-for-byte accuracy is required.
Storing data only in memory means that all information is lost when your program ends or the computer is turned off. Using files allows you to keep data for future use, making your programs much more useful and practical.
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