raise ValueError, amount_due in try block, except ValueError as err…

Hey nicolaspeterson, good questions all.

Let’s first review the basic concepts of errors. When an unexpected event occurs, an error is “raised”. This raising may be done by internal code (like when int() sees an error) or explicitly by a coder using the raise command. The error says the program can not continue.

In general, all errors will cause a program to halt unless the error is “handled”. Handling an error means being prepared that an error might happen by wrapping code in a try/except block. Theexcept statement lists the exceptions that will be handled locally, all other errors are passed along (possibly ending the program if not handled somewhere else.)

Why do we raise (and not except) a ValueError in our original function?

“Raise” is the process of halting execution, flagging the error, and returning control to the point where this code was called. Since the split_check function doesn’t have control over the arguments passed in, there isn’t a viable option to put in an except block to handle the situation. So a raise is used to notify the calling code.

Why do we need to move the amount_due expression into the try block?

By placing the amount_due expression in a try block, any error raised during the execution of this statement (and all others within the try block) will be evaluated by the matching except statement. Either the int(input…)) or the amount_due statements could raise a ValueError.

How the heck does ValueError as err even work?

The error that is raised has an associated error object. This error object is an instance of the corresponding error class:

>>> ValueError
<class 'ValueError'>
>>> ValueError("hello")
ValueError('hello',)
>>> type(ValueError("hello"))
<class 'ValueError'>

The basic except statement only matches the type of the error object. It does not provide and access to the matched error object. By using the as refinement, the provided label “err” may be used to reference the error object directly. This then allows using the err reference in a str context which will return the “Oh no…” string.

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