# Python Configparser Module

The `configparser` module provides a way to handle configuration files which are similar to Microsoft Windows INI files. It is part of the standard library.

## Importing the Module

```python
import configparser
```

## The Configuration File Format

Configuration files are organized into sections, and each section contains key-value pairs.

**config.ini**:
```ini
[DEFAULT]
ServerAliveInterval = 45
Compression = yes
CompressionLevel = 9

[bitbucket.org]
User = hg

[topsecret.server.com]
Port = 50022
ForwardX11 = no
```

## Creating a Config File

You can create a configuration file programmatically.

```python
import configparser

config = configparser.ConfigParser()

config['DEFAULT'] = {'ServerAliveInterval': '45',
                     'Compression': 'yes',
                     'CompressionLevel': '9'}

config['bitbucket.org'] = {}
config['bitbucket.org']['User'] = 'hg'

config['topsecret.server.com'] = {}
topsecret = config['topsecret.server.com']
topsecret['Port'] = '50022'
topsecret['ForwardX11'] = 'no'

with open('example.ini', 'w') as configfile:
    config.write(configfile)
```

## Reading a Config File

```python
import configparser

config = configparser.ConfigParser()
config.read('example.ini')

# List sections
print(config.sections())
# Output: ['bitbucket.org', 'topsecret.server.com']
```

## Accessing Values

You can access values like a dictionary. By default, values are strings. Use helper methods for types.

```python
print(config['bitbucket.org']['User']) # 'hg'

# Get Integer
port = config['topsecret.server.com'].getint('Port')

# Get Boolean (handles 'yes', 'no', 'on', 'off', '1', '0')
forward_x11 = config['topsecret.server.com'].getboolean('ForwardX11')
```

[[programming/python/python]]