Python open file unicode error

Question

I'm learning how to open a file in Python, but when I type the path to the file I want to open, a window pops up, saying "(unicode error) 'unicodeescape codec can't decode bytes in position 2-3: truncated \UXXXXXXXX escape". It highlights the first of my parentheses. Here's the code:

with open ("C:\Users\Rajrishi\Documents\MyJava\text.txt") as myfile:
    data = myfile.readlines()
print(data)

Does this answer your question? [Why do I get a SyntaxError for a Unicode escape in my file path?](https://stackoverflow.com/questions/18084554/why-do-i-get-a-syntaxerror-for-a-unicode-escape-in-my-file-path) — mkrieger1, Jun 17 '22 at 09:36

score 11 · Accepted Answer · answered Sep 07 '13 at 19:38

One obvious problem is that you're using a normal string, not a raw string. In

open ("C:\Users\Rajrishi\Documents\MyJava\text.txt") 
                                         ^^

the \t is interpreted as a tab character, not a literal backslash, followed by t.

Use one of the following:

open("C:\\Users\\Rajrishi\\Documents\\MyJava\\text.txt") # meh
open(r"C:\Users\Rajrishi\Documents\MyJava\text.txt")     # better
open("C:/Users/Rajrishi/Documents/MyJava/text.txt")      # also possible

Python open file unicode error

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