Python - create file

In this article, we would like to show you how to create a file using Python.

Quick solution:

file = open("example.txt", "x")

file = open("example.txt", "w")

file = open("example.txt", "a")

There are three parameters that we can use with open() method to create a file:

• x - create - creates a file, returns an error if the file exist,
• w - write - creates a file if the specified file does not exist,
• a - append - creates a file if the specified file does not exist.

Practical examples

Example 1

In this example, we create a file using open() method with x (create) parameter.

file = open("example.txt", "x")

Output when the file doesn't exist:

Process finished with exit code 0

Output when the file already existed:

Process finished with exit code 1

Example 2

In this example, we create a file using open() method with w and a parameters.

file = open("example.txt", "w")

or 

file = open("example.txt", "a")

Output when the file doesn't exist:

Output when the file already existed:

Process finished with exit code 0