| \section{Standard Module \sectcode{StringIO}} | 
 | \label{module-StringIO} | 
 |  | 
 | \stmodindex{StringIO} | 
 |  | 
 | This module implements a file-like class, \code{StringIO}, | 
 | that reads and writes a string buffer (also known as {\em memory | 
 | files}). See the description on file objects for operations. | 
 |  | 
 | When a \code{StringIO} object is created, it can be initialized | 
 | to an existing string by passing the string to the constructor. | 
 | If no string is given, the \code{StringIO} will start empty. | 
 |  | 
 | The method \code{getvalue()} can be called to retrieve the entire | 
 | contents of the ``file'' at any time before the \code{StringIO} | 
 | object's \code{close()} method is called.  Calling \code{close()} will | 
 | free the memory buffer. |