How do I create an empty file in emacs?

Question

How can I create an empty file from emacs, ideally from within a dired buffer?

For example, I\'ve just opened a Python module in dired mode, created a new directory,

Answer 1

The following works:

C-x b __init__.py RET C-x C-w RET

If you're in a dired buffer the file will be saved in the directory show here.

The trick is to first create an empty buffer by switching to a name that doesn't exist. Then write out the file.