Text Files

Text files are a fundamental data storage format that contain human-readable characters encoded in a standard character set, such as ASCII or UTF-8. They are used to store plain text without formatting, making them universally accessible across different operating systems and applications. Common examples include configuration files, source code, logs, and data exports.

Also known as: Plain Text Files, TXT Files, ASCII Files, UTF-8 Files, Flat Files

Why learn Text Files?

Developers should learn about text files because they are essential for tasks like configuration management, data interchange, and scripting. They are used in scenarios such as storing environment variables in .env files, writing shell scripts, and parsing CSV or JSON data. Understanding text file handling is crucial for cross-platform compatibility and automation workflows.

Learning Resources

• docs: MDN Web Docs: Text Files
• tutorial: W3Schools: File Handling
• tutorial: GeeksforGeeks: Text File vs Binary File
• course: Coursera: Programming for Everybody (Getting Started with Python)
• video: YouTube: Text Files in Python