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Python Practice Creating and Using Functions in Python Practice Functions Thank You!

Temi Folorunsho
Temi Folorunsho
2,849 Points

Expecting and Raising exceptions

From the practice exercise i saw that i can have more than one exceptions in the try block but, instead of using the raise keyword we keep on using only except. Why?

I'm still learning Python so this might be a basic explanation. You use EXCEPT when you encounter an error with your code, usually the error would come from python itself. You use RAISE for signaling an exception that YOU want to point out. So in other words YOU are causing this exception/error. In other words your code will still run without the RAISE exception but if you remove the TRY-EXCEPT statement and exception would be raised because of some error.

That is my understanding. Hopefully someone can elaborate a bit more and we can both continue to learn more. EXCELLENT QUESTION!

Temi Folorunsho
Temi Folorunsho
2,849 Points

I guess you are right. Thanks

1 Answer

Chris Freeman
MOD
Chris Freeman
Treehouse Moderator 68,457 Points

In general, raise is used to signal that your code found an error that needs handling and try / except is used to handle an error that may arise from uncontrollable input from outside your code.

Sometimes you raise and handle an error within your own code. You might be tempted to simply handle the error without the try/raise/except structure. Using the try/raise/except structure helps define the code section as an error handling situation and adds readability.

Now to your question: It may be possible that more than one error may occur from calling exterior code. Stacking except statements allows you to handle each type separately. Stacking except statements to cover a block of your own code is sometimes used so you don’t have to wrap each line of the block in its own try/except statement.

Post back if you need more help. Good luck!!!