How Can I Safely Insert Text into a Python Text File Without Overwriting Existing Content?

Inserting Text into a Text File in Python

Inserting text into a text file without altering its original contents can be a common programming task. In Python, this operation is not straightforward due to limitations imposed by the operating system.

Appending Versus Inserting

Unlike writing to the end of a file (appending), inserting text into the middle requires rewriting the entire file. This is because the file format doesn't allow for direct modification of specific sections.

Recommended Approach

To insert text safely, follow these steps:

1. Read the old file's contents into a new variable.
2. Make the necessary modifications to the in-memory variable.
3. Create a new temporary file and write the modified contents to it.
4. Rename the temporary file with the same name as the original file.

This method ensures data integrity by preserving the original file if any errors occur during the write operation.

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