Is there a way to read two files at the same time in python? (with the same loop?)

Question

I am trying to read 2 files at the same time right now, but I get a "too many values to unpack error". Here is what I have:

for each_f, each_g in f, g :
    line_f = each_f.split()
    line_g = each_g.split()

I am a little new to python but I assumed I would be able to do this. If this is impossible, is there an equivalent method? (The two files I am reading are very large)

Answer 1

import itertools

# ...

for each_f, each_g in itertools.izip(f, g):
    # ...

Answer 2

You can use a context manager, i.e. the with statement to read two files at the same time:

with open('file1', 'r') as a, open('file2', 'r') as b:  
    do_something_with_a_and_b