Python Errors Explained: Syntax Issues vs Exceptions

A clear guide to understanding and fixing common Python errors

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Python is a powerful and user-friendly programming language, but even experienced developers can run into errors during coding. Understanding the difference between syntax errors and exceptions is crucial for troubleshooting and improving your Python skills.

In this article, we’ll explore these two types of errors and provide code examples to help you identify and resolve them effectively.

Syntax Errors

Syntax errors occur when you violate the rules of the Python language’s syntax. These errors prevent your code from running at all because the Python interpreter cannot understand what you’ve written. Syntax errors are typically caught during the parsing phase, before your code is executed.

Here’s an example of a syntax error:

print("Hello, world!)  # Missing a closing quotation mark

When you try to run this code, Python will raise a SyntaxError with a message like SyntaxError: EOL while scanning string literal.

Other common syntax errors include:

• Missing colons : in control statements (e.g., if, for, def)