How to read a file

Use std::fs::read_to_string to load a file's contents into a String and handle errors with unwrap_or_else.

use std::fs;

fn main() {
    let contents = fs::read_to_string("hello.txt")
        .unwrap_or_else(|error| {
            eprintln!("Problem reading file: {error}");
            String::new()
        });
    println!("{contents}");
}

Reading a file opens a text document and loads its contents so your program can use the text. It automatically handles errors, like if the file is missing, by printing a message instead of crashing. Think of it like picking up a letter, reading the whole thing, and putting it on your desk to work with.