Erlang, Is it necessary to close the file here?

Question

When using `file:read_file(x)` is it necessary to close the returned file? ``` {ok, File} = file:read_file("maillog.sample"), file:close(File), ```

Accepted Answer

It is not a file, but the contents of the file that is returned. Thus, no file to close. Try changing the variable name to Data or similar as in the code below:

```
{ok, Data} = file:read_file("maillog.sample"),
```

Data will then have the contents of the file "maillog.sample". The function file:read_file/1 will open, read and close the file for you, all in one go.

Erlang, Is it necessary to close the file here?

Solution

Problem