INST 326 Module 4

Topics

Module 4 introduces some techniques for reading and writing data into files with Python. In addition to plain text files (TXT), we’ll also look at two commonly used data serializations: Comma-Separated Values (CSV), and Javascript Object Notation (JSON).

Learning Outcomes

After completing this module, students should understand:

• The purpose of file handles and how to create them.
• How to read and write text to/from files using file handles and file modes.
• The structure and some use-cases for CSV files.
• The structure and some use-cases for JSON files.

Readings

• Severance, Python for Everybody, Chapter 7: Files.
• Python Documentation:
  • csv
  • json
  • sys, specifically sys.argv

Links

• Slides
• Exercises
• Lab