how is try and except blocks different than using if else function in your code?

Question

I was just wondering if we can use if else statements instead of try and except and what value des try/except add over if/else statement.

Answer 1 · 2016-01-19T08:53:28Z

January 19, 2016 8:53am

Hi Mohit

The name itself explains it, try and except is more for exception handling where as if and else is more for executing code based on a condition. When you put code between a try block python will try and execute the code or throw an error if it cannot, thats where the except comes in. The except block helps you catch the exception and display an appropriate error to the user. If block will only execute if a condition is met.

see an example

try:
      my_input = input("Enter a number")
except ValueError:
     print("This is not a number")

# this example helps us catch an exception if the user does not enter a number. Try and except is also great when you are trying to debug code and not sure what the error is.

# assume we are trying to send an email

try:
   sendemail(example@example.com,example@example2.com)
except Exception as e:
   print(str(e))

# i can catch any error that occurs which helps me debug the code assuming the sendemail function doesnt send an email

# the if statement is more a conditional statement and is not meant for exception handling.

Answer 2 · 2016-01-21T04:17:28Z

January 21, 2016 4:17am

Thanks Andreas. It makes sense now :)

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mohit jain

mohit jain

how is try and except blocks different than using if else function in your code?

2 Answers

Andreas cormack

Andreas cormack

mohit jain

mohit jain