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Python Python Basics Functions and Looping Expecting Exceptions

Austin Jung
Austin Jung
1,311 Points

Try/Except statement scope

I have some experience in Java, and I know that writing code to catch exceptions similar to what's shown in the video in Java would also present a scope issue since total_due is declared within the try statement.

Does the same apply to Python? Would total_due still be inaccessible before moving the amount_due line into an else statement?

1 Answer

Chris Freeman
MOD
Chris Freeman
Treehouse Moderator 68,457 Points

Answering a slightly different question: The value total_due is accessible if and only if an error isn't raised during the input or float execution. If no error is raised, then total_due is available immediately.

Post back if you have more questions. Good luck!!

Austin Jung
Austin Jung
1,311 Points

I guess a better way of phrasing my question would have been "Is total_due usable outside of the try/except/else blocks?"

Chris Freeman
Chris Freeman
Treehouse Moderator 68,457 Points

Since the assignment to total_due is not assigned within a function or class, it is in the namespace scope of the entire file check_please.py. This makes it accessible as a global variable anywhere within the file.

Here's a short review of python scoping rules: https://stackoverflow.com/a/292502/2088339

Austin Jung
Austin Jung
1,311 Points

Got it, thank you!