What is os.truncate() in Python?
The os module
The os module in Python provides functions that help in interacting with the underlying operating system.
The truncate() method
The truncate() method truncates the given file descriptor or the file path with respect to the given length in bytes.
Syntax
truncate(path, length)
Parameters
path: This is the file path.length: This is the max length in bytes after truncation.
Return value
This function returns nothing.
Code
import osf_path = "file.txt"f_contents = "hello-world\nhello-edpresso"with open(f_path, "w") as f:f.write(f_contents)print("Before truncation contents of the file: ")f_contents = open(f_path).read()print(f_contents)os.truncate(f_path, 10)print("--" * 5)f_contents = open(f_path).read()print("After truncation contents of the file: ")print(f_contents)
Code explanation
- Line 1: We import the
osmodule. - Line 3: We define a file path called
f_path. - Line 5: We define the file’s contents called
f_contents. - Lines 7-8: We write
f_contentsto the filef_path. - Lines 10-12: The contents of the
f_pathare read. These are then printed to the console before the truncation. - Line 14: We truncate the file
f_pathto 10 bytes using theos.truncate()method. This method modifies the original file. - Lines 16-19: The contents of the
f_pathare re-read. We then print these to the console after the truncation.