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Efficient File I/O with fread() and fwrite()

The document provides an overview of the fread() and fwrite() functions from the standard I/O library, which are used for reading and writing large amounts of data efficiently. It details the prototypes, return types, and parameters for both functions, along with example code demonstrating their usage in reading and writing image data. The document emphasizes the importance of error checking when opening files and during read/write operations.

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s.madhumida33
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6 views2 pages

Efficient File I/O with fread() and fwrite()

The document provides an overview of the fread() and fwrite() functions from the standard I/O library, which are used for reading and writing large amounts of data efficiently. It details the prototypes, return types, and parameters for both functions, along with example code demonstrating their usage in reading and writing image data. The document emphasizes the importance of error checking when opening files and during read/write operations.

Uploaded by

s.madhumida33
Copyright
© All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

Block I/O: fread( ) and fwrite( )

1 Overview
Standard I/O library:
fopen( ), fclose( ) - opening and closing files
fprintf( ), fscanf( ) - field at a time with data conversion
fgetc( ), fputc( ) - character (byte) at a time
fgets( ), fputs( ) - line at a time
fread( ), fwrite( ), fseek( ) - physical block at a time

The fread( ) and fwrite( ) functions are the most efficient way to read or write large amounts of data.

2 fread( )
The fread( ) function reads a specified number of bytes from a binary file and places them into memory at the specified location.

Prototype:

int fread(void *InArea, int elementSize, int count, FILE *fp);

int return type: the function returns the number of items read
void *InArea: a pointer to the memory area to be read into
int elementSize: size of the basic data item, often specified using the sizeof operator
int count: number of data items
FILE *fp: the pointer to the file that was returned by fopen( )

Example:

typedef struct pixel_type {


unsigned char r;
unsigned char g;
unsigned char b;
} pixel_t;

typedef struct image_type {


int height;
int width;
pixel_t *pixels;
} image_t;

void parseHeader(FILE *inFilePtr, image_t *theImage);


void writeHeader(FILE *outFilePtr, image_t *theImage);
void writeImage(image_t *theImage);

int main(void) {
image_t *image;
FILE *in;
int howMany = 0;

in = fopen(“INfilename”, “r”);
if (in == NULL) {
fprintf(stderr, “Couldn’t open file for reading. \n”);
exit(1);
}
parseHeader(in, image);

image->pixels = (pixel_t *) malloc(sizeof(pixel_t) * image->height * image->width);


howMany = fread(image->pixels, sizeof(pixel_t), image->height * image->width, in);

if (howMany != image->height * image->width) {


fprintf(stderr, “Read error, wanted %d got %d \n”, image->height * image->width, howMany);
exit(1);
}

writeImage(image); <--- this function next page in the fwrite( ) example


... rest of program
3 fwrite( )
The fwrite( ) function writes a specified number of bytes from the memory address specified and places them into the file.

Prototype:

int fwrite(void *OutArea, int elementSize, int count, FILE *fp);

int return type: the function returns the total number of characters written
void *OutArea: a pointer to the memory area holding the data to be written
int elementSize: size of the basic data item, often specified using the sizeof operator
int count: number of data items
FILE *fp: the pointer to the file that was returned by fopen( )

Example (a continuation from the fread( ) example previous page):

void writeImage(image_t *theImage) {


int row = 0;
int howMany = 0;
FILE *out;

out = fopen(“OUTfilename”, “w”);


if (out == NULL) {
fprintf(stderr, “Couldn’t open file for writing. \n”);
exit(1);
}

writeHeader(out, theImage);

howMany = fwrite(theImage->pixels, sizeof(pixel_t), theImage->height * theImage->width, out);

if (howMany != theImage->height * theImage->width) {


fprintf(stderr, “Write error %d \n”, howMany);
exit(1);
}

fclose(out);
}

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