Python read/write file without closing

Question

Sometimes when I open a file for reading or writing in Python

f = open('workfile', 'r')

or

f = open('workfile', 'w')

I read/write the file, and then at the end I forget to do f.close(). Is there a way to automatically close after all the reading/writing is done, or after the code finishes processing?

Answer 1

with open('file.txt','r') as f:
    #file is opened and accessible via f 
    pass
#file will be closed before here 

Answer 2

You could always use the with...as statement

with open('workfile') as f:
    """Do something with file"""

or you could also use a try...finally block

f = open('workfile', 'r')
try:
    """Do something with file"""
finally:
    f.close()

Although since you say that you forget to add f.close(), I guess the with...as statement will be the best for you and given it's simplicity, it's hard to see the reason for not using it!