Chapter 13: Problem 31

The ___ member function moves a file's read position to a specified byte in the file.

Short Answer

Expert verified

Answer: The `seek` function or method is used to move a file's read position to a specific byte in the file, effectively allowing users to read the file from a desired location. In Python, the `seek` method can be used as follows: ```python with open('example.txt', 'r') as file: file.seek(5) # Move the read position to the 5th byte content = file.read() # Read the content from the new position print(content) # Print the content ```

Step by step solution

1. Understanding File Handling

In programming, file handling involves creating, reading, updating, and deleting files. To perform these tasks, we need to open the file with the correct mode, process the content as required, and then close the file afterward. Most programming languages have built-in support for working with files.

2. Working with File Reading Functions

When reading a file, we use functions or methods to get the content stored in the file. These functions usually work with the file's read pointer, which indicates the current position in the file to read from. As we read the file, the read pointer moves forward through the file.

3. Repositioning the Read Pointer

To move the read position to a specific byte in the file, we can use a function or method to set the read pointer to a particular location in the file. This function is usually called `seek` in many programming languages, such as C++, Python, and Java.

4. Example in Python

Here's an example of how to use the `seek` method in Python: ```python # Open the file with read mode with open('example.txt', 'r') as file: # Move the read position to a specific byte file.seek(5) # Read and print the content from the new read position content = file.read() print(content) ``` In this example, the `seek` method is used to move the file's read position to the 5th byte in the file before reading and printing the content.

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The ___ member function moves a file's read position to a specified byte in the file.

Short Answer

Step by step solution

1. Understanding File Handling

2. Working with File Reading Functions

3. Repositioning the Read Pointer

4. Example in Python

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