How to optimize file reading and writing performance in C development

In the C development process, file reading and writing operations are one of the common tasks. However, since file reading and writing are disk IO operations, they are more time-consuming than memory IO operations. In order to improve the performance of the program, we need to optimize file read and write operations. This article will introduce some common optimization techniques and suggestions to help developers improve performance during C file reading and writing.

1. Use appropriate file reading and writing methods

In C, file reading and writing can be achieved in a variety of ways, such as C-style file IO functions (such as fopen, fread, etc.), the fstream class of the C standard library, the low-level API of the operating system (such as Windows' CreateFile, ReadFile, etc.), etc. These methods have their own characteristics and adaptability to scenarios. Choosing the appropriate file reading and writing method based on specific needs can improve performance.

• If you need to perform sequential reading and writing of large amounts of data, C-style file IO functions are more efficient because their underlying implementation is closer to the file IO operations of the operating system and avoids some additional features of the C standard library. overhead.
• If you need to perform flexible and complex file operations, the fstream class of the C standard library provides a more convenient interface and can be better used in conjunction with C code.
• If you need to use the features of a specific operating system or perform advanced file operations, you can use the low-level API provided by the operating system, but you need to pay attention to cross-platform compatibility issues.

2. Use the buffer rationally

When reading and writing files, rational use of the buffer can significantly improve performance. The fstream class in the C standard library uses a buffer by default to read part of the data into memory before operating it to reduce frequent disk IO operations. Performance can be optimized by setting the buffer size.

• If you need to perform sequential reading and writing of large amounts of data, you can increase the size of the buffer and reduce the number of disk IOs, thereby improving performance.
• If the file reading and writing is not a continuous large amount of data, you can consider disabling the buffer or manually controlling the use of the buffer. This can avoid unnecessary memory overhead and data copying and improve performance.

3. Using asynchronous IO operations

In some scenarios, file reading and writing can use asynchronous IO operations to improve performance. Asynchronous IO operations can perform other tasks while waiting for IO to complete, saving time. The fstream class in the C standard library does not support asynchronous IO operations, but asynchronous IO can be implemented through the low-level API of the operating system.

Asynchronous IO operations need to consider multi-thread synchronization and resource competition issues, and require reasonable thread management and data protection. You need to pay attention to thread safety and reliability when using asynchronous IO operations.

4. Use binary file format

In file reading and writing, using binary file format can improve performance. Binary file formats take up less storage space and are faster than text file formats. Reading and writing binary files does not require character encoding and decoding, reducing additional overhead.

However, using binary file formats requires consideration of file readability and maintainability issues. When the file structure is complex or needs to interact with other systems, standard data exchange formats such as JSON or XML can be used.

5. Reduce the number of disk IO operations

Disk IO operations are relatively slow operations, so reducing the number of disk IO operations can improve performance. You can reduce the number of disk IO operations in the following ways:

• Batch read and write: merge multiple small read and write operations into one large read and write operation, reducing the number of disk IO operations.
• File mapping: Using memory-mapped files (Memory-mapped files) technology, the contents of the file are mapped to the virtual memory space of the process, and the memory can be read and written directly, avoiding disk IO operations. File mapping can improve performance when working with large files.
• Data cache: Use memory cache to cache the read file content, and obtain it directly from the cache the next time it is read, reducing disk IO operations.

Summary:

Optimizing file reading and writing performance in C development can improve the running efficiency and response speed of the program. By choosing an appropriate file reading and writing method, rationally using buffers, using asynchronous IO operations, using binary file formats, and reducing the number of disk IO operations, file reading and writing performance can be effectively improved. When reading and writing files, developers should choose appropriate optimization techniques based on specific needs, and conduct sufficient testing and verification to ensure that the program's performance reaches the expected goals.

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