Python File tell() Method

Description

The method tell() returns the current position of the file read/write pointer within the file.

Syntax

Following is the syntax for tell() method

fileObject.tell()

Parameters

• NA

Return Value

This method returns the current position of the file read/write pointer within the file.

Example

The following example shows the usage of tell() method.

#!/usr/bin/python

# Open a file
fo = open("foo.txt", "r")
print "Name of the file: ", fo.name

# Assuming file has following 5 lines
# This is 1st line
# This is 2nd line
# This is 3rd line
# This is 4th line
# This is 5th line

line = fo.readline()
print "Read Line: %s" % (line)

# Get the current position of the file.
pos = fo.tell()
print "Current Position: %d" % (pos)

# Close opend file
fo.close()

Let us compile and run the above program, this will produce the following result:

Name of the file:  foo.txt
Read Line: This is 1st line

Current Position: 17