
disk. The simplest methods to access a file are via <code class=
"keyword">gets</code> and <code class="keyword">puts</code>. When
there is a lot of data to be read, however, it is sometimes more
efficient to use the <code class="keyword">read</code> command to
load an entire file, and then parse the file into lines with the
<code class="keyword">split</code> command.</p>

<p>These methods can also be used for communicating over sockets
and pipes. It is even possible, via the so-called <i>virtual file
syst