C++ Footprint and Performance Optimization

Efficient Binary File IO

This section looks at the different basic techniques that can be used for manipulating binary files. The different techniques are discussed in separate sections. A Test Results subsection at the end of this section does an execution speed comparison of the techniques.

Using FILE Functions

The FILE functions can be used to read to and write from standard IO. These functions were already part of C but can still be used in C++. Table 12.3 shows the various FILE functions.

Table 12.3. FILE Functions

fopen	Open a file for reading/write of text/binary content
fclose	Close an opened file
fread	Read a block of data from an opened file
fwrite	Write a block of data to an opened file
fprintf	Print to an opened file (text)
fscanf ...