Exceptions
An exception is an error. We get these errors when the code is executed. Sometimes these are called Runtime errors. This is because we only get these errors when the code is running.
Some types of exceptions and how they occur
There are a lot of Exceptions and we'd just list some of the most seen ones.
ZeroDivisionError
This error occurs when a number (integer and float) is divided by zero.
Sample code
print("First line")
print(1.0 % 0)
print("Third line")
# output
# First line
# Traceback (most recent call last):
# File "s.py", line 2, in <module>
# print(1.0 % 0)
# ZeroDivisionError: float modulo
IndexError
This error occurs when a sequence is out of range. When we try to access an index that does not exist, we'd get an IndexError Exception.
Sample code
even_nums = [2, 4, 6, 8]
# there is no 4th indexed element
print(even_nums[4])
# output
# Traceback (most recent call last):
# File "sample.py", line 3, in <module>
# print(even_nums[4])
# IndexError: list index out of range
ImportError
This error occurs when an imported module can not load or does not exist. We shall discuss more about modules later. Let's say we created a file called sample.py with the function, def hi() that just prints hi and then we used (imported) it in another file, app.py.
sample code
sample.py
def hi():
print("hi")
app.py
from sample import hello
# output
# Traceback (most recent call last):
# File "sample.py", line 5, in <module>
# from sample import hello
# ImportError: cannot import name 'hello' from 'sample'
This will raise an ImportError. hello can not be loaded because it does not exist in sample.py as a function (Attribute).
AttributeError
Consider the sample code for ImportError. We import sample as an object. Objects have attributes and if we try to access or call an attribute that does not exist, we shall get AttributeError.
Sample code
Here we import sample.py as an object.
import sample
sample.hi()
sample.hello()
# hello # hello from sample.hi()
# Traceback (most recent call last):
# File "s.py", line 4, in <module>
# sample.hello()
# AttributeError: module 'sample' has no attribute 'hello'
Consider a case, where we create a class (an object and we give it an attribute).
class Sample:
def __init__(self):
self.attr = "Here you, an attribute"
obj = Sample()
print(obj.attr)
print(obj.b)
# output
# Here you, an attribute
# Traceback (most recent call last):
# File "sample.py", line 10, in <module>
# print(obj.b)
# AttributeError: 'Sample' object has no attribute 'b'
NameError
This error occurs when we try to access an undefined variable or object.
Sample code
print(x)
# Where was x defined
# output
# Traceback (most recent call last):
# File "sample.py", line 1, in <module>
# print(x)
# NameError: name 'x' is not defined
In the case of an object.
s = Home()
# output
# Traceback (most recent call last):
# File "sample.py", line 1, in <module>
# s = Home()
# NameError: name 'Home' is not defined
ValueError
This error mostly occurs when dealing with types, casting an inappropriate to another type. You can not cast a character (alphabetic or alphanumeric) string to an int.
Sample code
Casting an integer string to int. This is still a string but numeric.
print(int("12")) # 12
Casting float string to int. This is still a string, not numeric or alphanumeric which made up of numbers and alphabets then an underscore.
print(int("12.0"))
# output
# Traceback (most recent call last):
# File "sample.py", line 1, in <module>
# print(int("12.0"))
# ValueError: invalid literal for int() with base 10: '12.0'
TypeError
This error occurs when certain operations such as addition, multiplication, etc are done on objects of different (inappropriate) types. Such as trying to add an int to an str.
Sample code
print(4 + "John Doe")
# output
# Traceback (most recent call last):
# File "sample.py", line 1, in <module>
# print(4 + "John Doe")
# TypeError: unsupported operand type(s) for +: 'int' and 'str'
Handling exceptions
It is important to handle exception in our code as it will prevent the abrupt halting of the program when running. We can handle these errors with try and except clauses.
Try and catch structure
try:
# code to check
except (exceptions to handle):
# message
Example 1
# catch ZeroDivisionError
# error generated when dividing by zero
# we shall perform some simple division
# where by we take 2 int inputs from the user
try:
numerator = int(input('Enter the numerator: '))
denominator = int(input('Enter the denominator: '))
result = numerator / denominator
print(f"The result is {result}")
except ZeroDivisionError as z:
print(f'error: {z}')
# with this approach, our program would not crash badly.
# we can also catch this in another hack
numerator = int(input('Enter the numerator: '))
denominator = int(input('Enter the denominator: '))
if denominator == 0:
print(f'ZeroDivisionError: can not divide by zero')
else:
result = numerator / denominator
print(f"The result is {result}")
In the above example, it will be best if try and except is used instead.
Example 2
Let's try to catch any kind of exception using the Exception class.
# Lets catch an Exception without being specific
try:
numerator = input('Enter the numerator: ')
denominator = int(input('Enter the denominator: '))
result = numerator / denominator + rate
# note that the name, rate, is not defined
print(f"The result is {result}")
except Exception as z:
print(f'error: {z}')
Example 3
Let's catch multiple exceptions - as a tuple
try:
numerator = int(input('Enter the numerator: '))
denominator = int(input('Enter the denominator: '))
result = numerator / denominator
print(f"The result is {result}")
except (ZeroDivisionError, NameError, ValueError) as e:
print(f'error: {e}')
Raising exceptions
We can forcefully raise an exception using the raise keyword.
# let us raise an exception
# we that take an input from the user
# but we expect an even number else,
# we raise the exception
try:
user_input = int(input('Enter an even number: '))
if user_input % 2 != 0:
raise ValueError('Even number expected.')
# if we don't know what kind of exception to raise
# just raise Exception
else:
print(f"Cool, you entered, {user_input}")
except Exception as e:
print(f"error: {e}")
Practicals
Fix this code based on the error message generated. Fix the ambiguity of the operator precedence. Update the code to catch specific exceptions.
try:
numerator = input('Enter the numerator: ')
denominator = int(input('Enter the denominator: '))
result = numerator / denominator + rate
print(f"The result is {result}")
except Exception as z:
print(f'error: {z}')
Summary
- Exceptions are error we get at runtime
- The `Exception class catches all exceptions in general
- Use
tryandcatchto handle exceptions - Raise exception using,
raise Exception_type(message)
Top comments (2)
This is really great topic. I think I have to stick with your exercises for few days.
Thanks.. another truth is that the content has been strip down. There were a lot of exceptions that we were trying to recreate but a reader we had, was focusing on definitions and not on how or what will lead to an exception.