What are the differences between files in text and binary formats?

Text files contain data in the form of readable characters, usually using encodings like UTF-8 or ASCII. They are intended for storing text and can be opened and edited with regular text editors.

Binary files contain data in the form of bytes, which can represent any information — images, audio, compiled code, etc. They are not meant for direct reading by humans and require special programs for interpretation.

Main differences:

• Readability: Text files are human-readable, binary files are not.
• Size: Binary files are often more compact, as they do not contain additional formatting characters.
• Processing: Text files can be processed line by line, binary files require reading in byte blocks.

Example in Python for opening files:

# Text file
with open('file.txt', 'r', encoding='utf-8') as f:
    text = f.read()

# Binary file
with open('file.bin', 'rb') as f:
    data = f.read()