How to erase the file contents of a text file in Python?

Safe approach with truncation method

There is another proven way to accomplish the file erasure:

with open('file.txt', 'r+') as f:
    f.truncate(0)  # Thanos snap for file content!
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In this approach, 'r+' mode is the ideal choice, as it deals with reading and writing. It positions the cursor to the start of the file. With truncate(0), the file is reduced to zero-length starting from the current cursor position, performing an in-place content clean-up.

The Obliteration Warning

While this might feel like having superpowers, remember with great power comes great responsibility. Deleting a file’s content is an unrecoverable operation. So, handle it with caution to avoid any “Oops!..I did it again” moments (Britney's wisdom applies!). Backup your data prior to any destructive operations.

Diving deeper: Alternatives worth considering

Overwriting the file whisper-like

If you need to overwrite a file after meeting some criteria, consider creating a temporary file. Make changes in the shadows before pulling off the grand reveal:

import os
import tempfile

with tempfile.NamedTemporaryFile(delete=False) as tf:
    # Write the new plot twist!
    file_name = tf.name

os.replace(file_name, 'file.txt')  # Switcheroo time!
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Empty string method - Contribution by ‘John Dough’

You can effectively clear a file by writing an empty string:

with open('file.txt', 'w') as f:
    f.write('')  # Playing a quiet game of hide and seek.
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This directly writes an empty string to the file, performing the same action as truncate(0).

Adding user consent – Just to be sure!

When writing interactive applications, consider adding a confirmation step to prevent the dreadful "Oh no!" moments:

confirm = input("Are you sure you want to erase file like a boss? [y/N] ")
if confirm.lower() == 'y':
    with open('file.txt', 'w'): pass
    print("File contents have vanished! Poof!")
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This adds an extra layer of safeguard, ushering user consent before the irreversible action.