In Python, you can save your program’s print output (stdout) to a text file using either basic file redirection or more flexible code-based approaches. This is useful when logging output for review or debugging.
Method 1: Redirect Output Using > in Command Line
Run your script and redirect the output
python your_script.py > output.txt
This saves everything that would normally be printed to the terminal into
output.txt.This is the simplest way to save output, but only works when running the script from the command line.
Method 2: Use sys.stdout in Code
Import sys and redirect print output
import sys
# Redirect stdout to a file
sys.stdout = open('output.txt', 'w')
print("This will go to the file instead of the screen")
# Don’t forget to close the file
sys.stdout.close()
Useful if you want to control where the output goes from within your script.
Also Read: Best Python Applications And Website Examples in 2025
Method 3: Use Context Manager for Temporary Redirection
Use
contextlib.redirect_stdout for safer, limited redirection
import sysfrom contextlib import redirect_stdout
with open('output.txt', 'w') as f:
with redirect_stdout(f):
print("Only this block prints to the file")
print("This will still print to the screen")
Ideal when you want to capture only part of your script’s output to a file.
Tip
Avoid using
sys.stdout = ... for long scripts without resetting it, as it will break console output. Use
redirect_stdout when possible for safety and clarity.
