File Handling through C++ Classes

• Difficulty Level : Medium
• Last Updated : 15 Jul, 2021

In C++, files are mainly dealt by using three classes fstream, ifstream, ofstream available in fstream headerfile. 
ofstream: Stream class to write on files 
ifstream: Stream class to read from files 
fstream: Stream class to both read and write from/to files. 

Now the first step to open the particular file for read or write operation. We can open file by 
1. passing file name in constructor at the time of object creation 
2. using the open method 

For e.g.  

Open File by using constructor 
ifstream (const char* filename, ios_base::openmode mode = ios_base::in); 
ifstream fin(filename, openmode) by default openmode = ios::in 
ifstream fin(“filename”);

 

 

 

Open File by using open method 
Calling of default constructor 
ifstream fin;
fin.open(filename, openmode) 
fin.open(“filename”); 
 

Modes :  

Member ConstantStands ForAccessin *inputFile open for reading: the internal stream buffer supports input operations.outoutputFile open for writing: the internal stream buffer supports output operations.binarybinaryOperations are performed in binary mode rather than text.ateat endThe output position starts at the end of the file.appappendAll output operations happen at the end of the file, appending to its existing contents.trunctruncateAny contents that existed in the file before it is open are discarded.

Default Open Modes :  

ifstreamios::inofstreamios::outfstreamios::in | ios::out

Problem Statement : To read and write a File in C++. 
Examples: 

Input :Welcome in GeeksforGeeks. Best way to learn things.-1Output :Welcome in GeeksforGeeks. Best way to learn things.

Recommended: Please try your approach on {IDE} first, before moving on to the solution.

Below is the implementation by using ifsream & ofstream classes.  

• C++

/* File Handling with C++ using ifstream & ofstream class object*/

/* To write the Content in File*/

/* Then to read the content of file*/

#include <iostream>

/* fstream header file for ifstream, ofstream,

  fstream classes */

#include <fstream>

using namespace std;

// Driver Code

int main()

{

    // Creation of ofstream class object

    ofstream fout;

    string line;

    // by default ios::out mode, automatically deletes

    // the content of file. To append the content, open in ios:app

    // fout.open("sample.txt", ios::app)

    fout.open("sample.txt");

    // Execute a loop If file successfully opened

    while (fout) {

        // Read a Line from standard input

        getline(cin, line);

        // Press -1 to exit

        if (line == "-1")

            break;

        // Write line in file

        fout << line << endl;

    }

    // Close the File

    fout.close();

    // Creation of ifstream class object to read the file

    ifstream fin;

    // by default open mode = ios::in mode

    fin.open("sample.txt");

    // Execute a loop until EOF (End of File)

    while (fin) {

        // Read a Line from File

        getline(fin, line);

        // Print line in Console

        cout << line << endl;

    }

    // Close the file

    fin.close();

    return 0;

}

Below is the implementation by using fstream class. 

• C++

/* File Handling with C++ using fstream class object */

/* To write the Content in File */

/* Then to read the content of file*/

#include <iostream>

/* fstream header file for ifstream, ofstream,

   fstream classes */

#include <fstream>

using namespace std;

// Driver Code

int main()

{

    // Creation of fstream class object

    fstream fio;

    string line;

    // by default openmode = ios::in|ios::out mode

    // Automatically overwrites the content of file, To append

    // the content, open in ios:app

    // fio.open("sample.txt", ios::in|ios::out|ios::app)

    // ios::trunc mode delete all content before open

    fio.open("sample.txt", ios::trunc | ios::out | ios::in);

    // Execute a loop If file successfully Opened

    while (fio) {

        // Read a Line from standard input

        getline(cin, line);

        // Press -1 to exit

        if (line == "-1")

            break;

        // Write line in file

        fio << line << endl;

    }

    // Execute a loop until EOF (End of File)

    // point read pointer at beginning of file

    fio.seekg(0, ios::beg);

    while (fio) {

        // Read a Line from File

        getline(fio, line);

        // Print line in Console

        cout << line << endl;

    }

    // Close the file

    fio.close();

    return 0;