Python Read and Write Text File Example

This example shows a small Python script that writes text to a file and then reads it back.

It is a practical beginner example. The goal is simple: create or overwrite a text file, add some text, read the file, and print the result.

Quick example

file_name = "notes.txt"

with open(file_name, "w") as file:
    file.write("Hello, Python!\n")
    file.write("This is a text file example.\n")

with open(file_name, "r") as file:
    content = file.read()

print(content)

This creates or overwrites a text file, writes two lines, reads the full file, and prints the result.

What this example shows

How to open a file for writing with mode "w"
How to write text using write()
How to open the same file for reading with mode "r"
How to read all file content with read()
Why using with open(...) is the beginner-friendly safe pattern

If you want a fuller introduction, see Python file handling basics: read and write or the Python open() function explained.

Example setup

In this example, the file name is:

file_name = "notes.txt"

This means Python will look for the file in the current folder where your script runs.

A few important points:

"w" means write mode
If the file does not exist, Python creates it
If the file already exists, "w" removes the old content first
\n adds a new line

So this line:

file.write("Hello, Python!\n")

writes the text and then moves to the next line.

Write text to the file

Here is the writing part by itself:

file_name = "notes.txt"

with open(file_name, "w") as file:
    file.write("Hello, Python!\n")
    file.write("This is a text file example.\n")

What to notice:

open(file_name, "w") opens the file in write mode
with automatically closes the file when the block ends
write() writes exactly the string you give it
write() does not add a new line by itself

If you want to learn more about writing files, see how to write to a file in Python.

Read text from the file

Here is the reading part:

with open(file_name, "r") as file:
    content = file.read()

print(content)

What this does:

open(file_name, "r") opens the file in read mode
file.read() reads the whole file as one string
The result is stored in content
print(content) shows the text in the terminal

If you want more reading examples, see how to read a file in Python.

Expected output

The script prints:

Hello, Python!
This is a text file example.

This matches the two lines written earlier.

That is the main idea of this example:

Write text into the file
Read the same text back
Print it so you can see the result

How this example works step by step

1. The first block opens the file and writes text

with open(file_name, "w") as file:
    file.write("Hello, Python!\n")
    file.write("This is a text file example.\n")

This creates notes.txt if needed and writes two lines into it.

2. The file is closed automatically

When the with block ends, Python closes the file for you.

This is why with open(...) is the safest beginner pattern.

3. The second block opens the file again for reading

with open(file_name, "r") as file:
    content = file.read()

Now Python opens the same file in read mode.

4. `read()` returns the file content as a string

The full contents of the file are stored in content.

5. `print()` displays that string

print(content)

This prints the file text to the terminal or console.

Common beginner mistakes

Here are some common problems with this kind of script:

Using "w" when you wanted to keep old file content
Forgetting \n and expecting separate lines
Trying to read before the file was written
Using the wrong file path
Misspelling the file name

Also watch out for these common causes:

Using write mode "w" and accidentally overwriting existing content
Reading a file from a different folder than expected
Forgetting newline characters when writing multiple lines
Confusing text file reading with CSV or JSON reading
Trying to open a file that does not exist when using "r"

If Python says the file cannot be found, see how to fix FileNotFoundError: [Errno 2] No such file or directory.

Useful debugging checks:

print(file_name)

import os
print(os.getcwd())

import os
print(os.path.exists(file_name))

with open(file_name, 'r') as file:
    print(repr(file.read()))

These help you check:

the file name you are using
the current working folder
whether the file actually exists
the exact text in the file, including \n

Try a small variation

Once this example works, try changing one small part at a time:

Change the file name
Write three lines instead of two
Replace read() with readline() or readlines()
Switch from "w" to "a" and see what changes

For example, append mode keeps the old content instead of replacing it:

file_name = "notes.txt"

with open(file_name, "a") as file:
    file.write("This line was added later.\n")

If you want to practice that next, see how to append to a file in Python.

FAQ

What does `"w"` mean in `open()`?

"w" means write mode. It creates a new file if needed and overwrites old content if the file already exists.

What does `"r"` mean in `open()`?

"r" means read mode. It opens an existing file so you can read its contents.

Why use `with open()` instead of `open()` by itself?

with open() closes the file automatically, which is safer and easier for beginners.

How do I keep existing text instead of replacing it?

Use append mode "a" instead of write mode "w".

Why is my text all on one line?

write() does not add line breaks automatically. Add \n where you want a new line.