Get Number of Characters, Words, Spaces and Lines in a File - Python

Last Updated : 16 Jan, 2026

Given a text file, the task is to count the total number of characters, words, spaces and lines in the file.

Example: (Myfile.txt)

Hello world
This is Python
It is easy

Output:
Lines: 3
Words: 8
Characters: 30
Spaces: 5

Using Built-in Python Functions

This is the most readable and Pythonic method. It uses split(), generator expressions and basic iteration.

Python 
f1 = "Myfile.txt"
lines =words = chars = spaces = 0

with open(f1, "r") as f:
    for x in f:
        lines += 1
        words += len(x.split())
        spaces += x.count(" ")
        chars += sum(1 for c in x if c not in (" ", "\n"))

print("Lines:", lines)
print("Words:", words)
print("Characters:", chars)
print("Spaces:", spaces)

Output

Lines: 3
Words: 8
Characters: 30
Spaces: 5

Explanation:

  • line.split(): splits line into words
  • len(line.split()): number of words in the line
  • line.count(" "): counts spaces
  • sum(1 for c in x if c not in (" ", "\n")): counts non-space, non-newline characters.

Using OS Module + Filtering Words

This method uses os.linesep, strip() and comprehension-based counting. 

Python 
import os
f1 = "Myfile.txt"

lines = words = chars = spaces = 0

with open(f1, "r") as f:
    for x in f:
        line = x.strip(os.linesep)
        wl = x.split()

        lines += 1
        words += len(wl)
        chars += sum(1 for c in line if c not in (" ", os.linesep))
        spaces += sum(1 for c in line if c in (" ",))

print("Lines:", lines)
print("Words:", words)
print("Characters:", chars)
print("Spaces:", spaces)

Output

Lines: 3
Words: 8
Characters: 30
Spaces: 5

Explanation:

  • line.strip(os.linesep): removes newline character
  • line.split(): gives list of words
  • sum(1 for c in line if ...): counts characters and spaces.

Naive Manual Approach

This method manually checks every character and updates counters. It is more complex and less readable.

Python 
fname = "File1.txt"
words = lines = chars = spaces = 0

with open(fname, "r") as f:
    for line in f:
        lines += 1
        flag = True

        for ch in line:
            if ch != " " and ch != "\n" and flag:
                words += 1
                flag = False
            elif ch == " ":
                spaces += 1
                flag = True

            if ch not in (" ", "\n"):
                chars += 1

print("Lines:", lines)
print("Words:", words)
print("Characters:", chars)
print("Spaces:", spaces)

Output

Lines: 3
Words: 8
Characters: 30
Spaces: 5

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