Log out Go to App
Go to App

Learning Materials

Features

Discover

Chapter 12: Problem 51

T F ofstream objects, by default, delete the contents of a file if it already exists when opened.

Short Answer

Expert verified
Answer: Yes, ofstream objects, by default, delete the contents of a file if it already exists when opened. This is because the default file opening mode for ofstream is ios::out, which overwrites the file and deletes its contents before writing new data. To retain the existing contents of the file, use the ios::app file opening mode instead.

Step by step solution

01

Understand ofstream objects

ofstream stands for 'output file stream' and is used in C++ to create or modify files. By default, ofstream uses the file opening mode `ios::out` to specify how the file should be treated upon opening.
02

File opening modes

There are several file opening modes that can be used with ofstream objects, including: 1. ios::out - Open the file for output operations (default). 2. ios::app - Append data to the file; new content will be added to the end of the existing content. 3. ios::binary - Open the file in binary mode (used with images, audio files, etc.). 4. ios::in - Open the file for input operations. 5. ios::trunc - If the file exists, delete its contents and start writing from the beginning.
03

Analyze the given statement

The statement given in the exercise is "ofstream objects, by default, delete the contents of a file if it already exists when opened." We know that by default, ofstream objects use the ios::out file opening mode. It means that the file will be opened for output operations. If the file already exists, ios::out mode will overwrite the file and delete its contents before writing new data. Hence, the given statement is true.
04

Conclusion

It is correct to say that ofstream objects, by default, delete the contents of a file if it already exists when opened. If you want to retain the existing contents of the file, consider using ios::app file opening mode, which appends new data to the existing content instead of overwriting it.

Unlock Step-by-Step Solutions & Ace Your Exams!

  • Full Textbook Solutions

    Get detailed explanations and key concepts

  • Unlimited Al creation

    Al flashcards, explanations, exams and more...

  • Ads-free access

    To over 500 millions flashcards

  • Money-back guarantee

    We refund you if you fail your exam.

Start your free trial

Over 30 million students worldwide already upgrade their learning with Vaia!

One App. One Place for Learning.

All the tools & learning materials you need for study success - in one app.

Get started for free

Most popular questions from this chapter

Under what circumstances is a file stream object’s ios::hardfail bit set? What member function reports the state of this bit?

How do you combine multiple file access flags when opening a file?

What arguments do you pass to a file stream object’s write member function?

What capability does the fstream data type provide that the ifstream and ofstream data types do not?

In __________ file access, the contents of the file are read in the order they appear in the file, from the file’s start to its end.
See all solutions

Recommended explanations on Computer Science Textbooks

Computer Programming

Read Explanation

Problem Solving Techniques

Read Explanation

Computer Organisation and Architecture

Read Explanation

Theory of Computation

Read Explanation

Algorithms in Computer Science

Read Explanation

Data Structures

Read Explanation
View all explanations

What do you think about this solution?

We value your feedback to improve our textbook solutions.

Study anywhere. Anytime. Across all devices.

Sign-up for free