Writing a list to a file with Python, with newlines

Writing a list to a file in Python with each element on a new line is a common task when working with data storage, logging, or exporting results. Python makes this process straightforward by combining file handling with simple string operations.

The most direct approach is to use a for loop and the write() method:

my_list = ["Apple", "Banana", "Cherry"]

with open("fruits.txt", "w") as f:

    for item in my_list:

        f.write(item + "

")

This ensures that each item from the list is written on a separate line in the file.

Another efficient way is to use the writelines() method along with a list comprehension:

with open("fruits.txt", "w") as f:

    f.writelines(item + "

" for item in my_list)

Key points to remember:

• File mode: Use "w" to write (overwrites file) or "a" to append.
  
• Newlines: Manually add "
  " so each list element appears on its own line.
  
• Context manager: Using with open(...) automatically closes the file after writing.
  
• Data conversion: If the list contains non-string elements (like integers), convert them with str() before writing.
  

 While writing lists to files is simple, formatting them properly with newlines makes the file more readable and easier to parse later. This small habit saves time when you or others need to review or reuse the data.