Question

Which of the following methods is used to position a file object to a specific position in a file?

• A. tell()
• B. peep()
• C. move()
• D. seek()

Hint:

Remember:
- tell(): "Where am I?" (Returns current byte offset).
- seek(offset): "Go to this position" (Moves file pointer).

Answer 1

The Correct Option is D

Concept:
When working with files in Python, the file pointer indicates the current byte offset where the next read or write operation will take place.
Python provides built-in methods on file objects to inspect and modify this byte offset.

Step 1: Understanding seek():
The seek(offset, whence) method reposition the file pointer to a specific byte location within the file.
- offset defines how many bytes to move.
- whence is an optional reference point: 0 (beginning of file, default), 1 (current position), or 2 (end of file).
Hence, seek() sets the file pointer to a chosen location.

Step 2: Evaluating tell() and Other Options:
- tell() returns the current integer byte offset of the file pointer without modifying it.
- Neither peep() nor move() are valid built-in file object methods in Python.
Final Answer:
The method used to position a file pointer to a designated location is seek().