Handling Binary Files in Python

Binary files are essential for storing and manipulating data such as images, audio files, executables, or any data that does not consist of text.

Reading and Writing Binary Data

Binary file operations are similar to text file operations but require a bit more care to handle the data correctly.

Opening Binary Files

To open a file in binary mode, append 'b' to the mode parameter in the open() function. For example, 'rb' opens a file for reading in binary mode, and 'wb' opens a file for writing in binary mode.

Writing to Binary Files

Writing to a binary file is similar to writing to a text file, except that the data must be in the form of bytes:

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data_to_write = b'This is binary data'
with open("example.bin", "wb") as file:
    file.write(data_to_write)

Reading Binary Files

When reading from a binary file, data is returned as bytes objects, not as strings. This is important when processing or manipulating the data within the file.

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with open("example.bin", "rb") as file:
    binary_data = file.read()
    print(binary_data) # Output: b'This is binary data'

Congratulations! ⚡️ You've made significant strides in mastering crucial techniques for managing and manipulating files efficiently in Python. Keep up the great work, and continue to build on this strong foundation! 💪🏻