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Python File tell() Method with Example

Python File tell() Method: Here, we are going to learn about the tell() method, how to find the current file position in Python?
Submitted by IncludeHelp, on December 22, 2019

File tell() Method

tell() method is an inbuilt method in Python, it is used to get the current file position in the file stream.

Syntax:

    file_object.tell()

Parameter(s):

• It does not accept any parameter.

Return value:

The return type of this method is <class 'bool'>, it returns an integer value which is the file position in the file stream.

Example:

# Python File tell() Method with Example

# creating a file
myfile1 = open("hello1.txt", "w")

# printing the file position
print("myfile1.tell(): ", myfile1.tell())

# writing the content in the file 
myfile1.write("Hello! How are you?")
# printing the file position
print("myfile1.tell(): ", myfile1.tell())

# writing the content in the file 
myfile1.write("\nI am good, what about you?")
# printing the file position
print("myfile1.tell(): ", myfile1.tell())

# closing the file
myfile1.close()

# Opening file in read mode
myfile1 = open("hello1.txt", "r")

# printing the file position
print("After opening the file in read mode...")
print("myfile1.tell(): ", myfile1.tell())

# reading the content
print("File's content is...")
print(myfile1.read())

# printing the file position
print("After reading the file...")
print("myfile1.tell(): ", myfile1.tell())

# closing the file
myfile1.close()

Output

myfile1.tell():  0
myfile1.tell():  19
myfile1.tell():  46
After opening the file in read mode...
myfile1.tell():  0
File's content is...
Hello! How are you?
I am good, what about you?
After reading the file...
myfile1.tell():  46