Understanding error messages in Python

Programming

Understanding error messages in Python

Syntax Errors

Syntax errors, also known as parsing errors, are perhaps the most common kind of complaint you get while you are still learning Python

Exceptions

Even if a statement or expression is syntactically correct, it may cause an error when an attempt is made to execute it. Errors detected during execution are called exceptions and are not unconditionally fatal.

How to read an error message

An error MIGHT look something like this:

  File "/Users/bmackenty/Documents/python_scratch_folder/hello_world.py", line 1
    print" Hello there" 
                      ^
SyntaxError: invalid syntax

anomalous or exceptional conditions requiring special processing – often changing the normal flow of program execution

anomalous or exceptional conditions requiring special processing – often changing the normal flow of program execution