File I/O (Input/Output) operations are fundamental tasks in any operating system, allowing users and applications to read from and write to files. On macOS, which is built on a Unix-based foundation, file I/O operations can be performed using various methods, including command-line tools, scripting languages, and programming languages. This article will explore how to perform file I/O operations on macOS using the Terminal and Python, providing practical examples to illustrate each method.

Examples:

1. Using Terminal Commands

   The macOS Terminal provides several commands for file I/O operations. Here are some examples:

   • Creating a File:

     touch example.txt

     This command creates an empty file named example.txt.

   • Writing to a File:

     echo "Hello, World!" > example.txt

     This command writes "Hello, World!" to the file example.txt.

   • Appending to a File:

     echo "Append this text." >> example.txt

     This command appends "Append this text." to the file example.txt.

   • Reading a File:

     cat example.txt

     This command displays the contents of example.txt.

2. Using Python for File I/O

   Python is a versatile scripting language that is pre-installed on macOS, making it a powerful tool for file I/O operations. Here are some examples:

   • Creating and Writing to a File:

     with open('example.txt', 'w') as file:
      file.write('Hello, World!')

     This Python script creates a file named example.txt and writes "Hello, World!" to it.

   • Appending to a File:

     with open('example.txt', 'a') as file:
      file.write('\nAppend this text.')

     This script appends "Append this text." to the file example.txt.

   • Reading a File:

     with open('example.txt', 'r') as file:
      content = file.read()
      print(content)

     This script reads the contents of example.txt and prints it to the console.