---
name: "IO.open"
section: "3kaya"
platform: "linux"
package: "kaya"
version: "0.4.4-6.2"
release: "Debian 8 (Jessie)"
platforms: ["linux"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/IO.open"
---

# IO.open(3kaya)

Open a file.

## NAME

IO::open - Open a file.

## SYNOPSIS

**File open(** *String fname, \[FileMode\] mode* **)**

## ARGUMENTS

**fname** The name of the file

**mode** A list of file modes

## DESCRIPTION

Open the named file with the specified file modes. Not all combinations of modes are legal, and an **IO.InvalidMode (3kaya)** Exception will be thrown if an illegal mode is selected. A **IO.FileError (3kaya)** Exception will be thrown if opening fails for any other reason. Legal mode combinations are:

-

  \-  **\[Read,Write\]**  : read and write to any point in the file

-

  \-  **\[Read,Append\]**  : read from any point in the file, write to the end only (creating the file if it does not exist)

-

  \-  **\[Read\]**  : read from any point in the file

-

  \-  **\[Write\]**  : write to any point in the file, creating the file if it does not exist, and truncating it otherwise.

-

  \-  **\[Append\]**  : write to the end of the file, creating the file if it doesn't exist.

**Binary**  can be added to any of the combinations above to open the file in binary mode on Windows (it has no effect on POSIX platforms).

## AUTHORS

Kaya standard library by Edwin Brady, Chris Morris and others (kaya@kayalang.org). For further information see http://kayalang.org/

## LICENSE

The Kaya standard library is free software; you can redistribute it and/or modify it under the terms of the GNU Lesser General Public License (version 2.1 or any later version) as published by the Free Software Foundation.

## RELATED

**IO.close (3kaya)**

**IO.reopen (3kaya)**