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C++ File Handling Beginners Guide

This document serves as a beginner's guide to file handling in C++, explaining how to read from and write to files using the <fstream> header. It details the three file stream classes (ifstream, ofstream, fstream), basic file operations, and various file opening modes. Additionally, it covers sequential versus random access, file pointers, and essential file functions with examples.

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shreyas kulkarni
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46 views4 pages

C++ File Handling Beginners Guide

This document serves as a beginner's guide to file handling in C++, explaining how to read from and write to files using the <fstream> header. It details the three file stream classes (ifstream, ofstream, fstream), basic file operations, and various file opening modes. Additionally, it covers sequential versus random access, file pointers, and essential file functions with examples.

Uploaded by

shreyas kulkarni
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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C++ File Handling - Beginner Guide

What is File Handling in C++?

File handling means reading from and writing to files on your computer using a C++ program.

C++ provides classes to create, open, write, read, and close files. These are included in the <fstream>

header.

fstream, ifstream, and ofstream

C++ provides three file stream classes:

1. ifstream - for reading from files

2. ofstream - for writing to files

3. fstream - for both reading and writing

Opening a File - Syntax and Example

Example (writing to a file):

#include <fstream>

ofstream myFile("example.txt");

if (myFile.is_open()) {

myFile << "Hello!";

myFile.close();

Basic File Opening Modes

ios::in - Open for reading

ios::out - Open for writing


C++ File Handling - Beginner Guide

ios::app - Append to end of file

ios::ate - Move to end when opened

ios::trunc - Deletes old content

ios::binary- Binary mode

You can combine modes using | (OR).

Reading from a File - Example

#include <fstream>

ifstream file("example.txt");

string line;

while (getline(file, line)) {

cout << line << endl;

Checking if File is Open

Use .is_open():

if (file.is_open()) {

// ready to use

istream and ostream

istream - input stream (cin, ifstream)

ostream - output stream (cout, ofstream)


C++ File Handling - Beginner Guide

Sequential vs Random Access

Sequential: Reads data one by one from start.

Random: Allows jumping to any position using pointers.

File Pointers Overview

get pointer (for reading): seekg(), tellg()

put pointer (for writing): seekp(), tellp()

Basic File Functions - Syntax

open(): file.open("filename.txt", mode);

close(): file.close();

is_open(): file.is_open()

eof(): file.eof()

get(): file.get(ch);

put(): file.put('A');

getline(): getline(file, str);

seekg(): file.seekg(pos);

seekp(): file.seekp(pos);

tellg(): file.tellg();

tellp(): file.tellp();

Special Explanation: seekg and tellg

seekg(position): Moves the read pointer.

tellg(): Returns current read position.


C++ File Handling - Beginner Guide

Example:

file.seekg(5); file.get(ch); // Reads 6th character

Special Explanation: seekp and tellp

seekp(position): Moves the write pointer.

tellp(): Returns current write position.

Example:

file.seekp(6); file.put('M'); // Overwrites 7th character

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