file.tell() Current position
Last updated: 2026-09-22
file.tell() Current position
file.tell() returns the current file position.
| Category | File Methods |
|---|---|
| Kind | Built-in Type Method |
| Python Version | all |
📝 Syntax
file.tell()Returns：int. The current file position.
Mutates the original：No (returns a new object)
💥 Raises
OSError— Raised when the file is closed or on I/O errors.
▶ Example
Edit the code, press Run, and see the result in the output panel:
Output：
6💡 Related Cases
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❓ FAQ
QWhat does tell() return?
AThe current file read/write position. In text mode it returns an opaque integer (not exactly mapped to character count); in binary mode it returns the byte offset.
QWhat happens when called after the file is closed?
AAn OSError is raised (file closed or I/O error).
QWhat is it useful for?
ARemembering the current position so you can seek() back to it later, or keeping track of how much has been read.
