Python readable() Function

The readable() function in Python, used to check whether a file is readable or not. The function readable() returns True if the file is readable, otherwise returns False.

Python readable() Function Syntax

The syntax to use readable() function in a Python program is:

file.readable()

where file indicates to the file pointer or file object or file handler, whatever you say.

Python readable() Function Example

Here is an example program, uses readable() function to check whether the file entered by user can be read or not:

print("Enter the Name of File: ", end="")
filename = input()

fp = open(filename, "r")
if fp.readable():
    print("\nThe given file can be read.")
else:
    print("\nThe given file is not readable.")

Before executing the above program, be sure to create a file inside the current directory. Because in my case, I've a file named yourfile.txt available in my current directory. Therefore, let's take a look at the sample run of above program, shows in the snapshot given below:

The question may arise in your mind is, what if the entered file by user at run-time is not available (exist) in the current directory ?
The answer is, if the file does not exist in the current directory, then the above program raises error. Therefore let's modify the program and create another one to handle that error:

print("Enter the Name of File: ", end="")
filename = input()

try:
    fp = open(filename, "r")
    if fp.readable():
        print("\nThe given file can be read.")
    else:
        print("\nThe given file is not readable.")
except FileNotFoundError:
    print("\nThe given file is not available.")

Here is its sample run with user input none.txt a non-existing file:

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