How to Use the try...else Block in Python

1. Use the try...except Block Without an else Clause in Python
2. Use the try...except Block With the else Clause in Python

This article explains how to use the else along with the try...except pair. We’ve included some methods you use as your guide to incorporate the pair in a program.

try:
    <a code block >
except:
    <a code block >
else:
    <a code block. Note: 'else' clause is optional>

The except clause is used to specify >=1 exception handlers. The code block associated with this clause is executed if there are exceptions thrown in the try block and hence, handles the error.

The else clause is optional. It’s placed after all the except clauses. The code block associated with this clause is executed only if there are no exceptions thrown in the try block.

Let us try examples with and without the else statements.

Use the try...except Block Without an else Clause in Python

Here’s an example code demonstrating the use of try...except without the else clause.

try:
    print("From the 'try' statement block - ", var1)
except:
    print("Except block - An exception occurred")

Here, var1 is not defined in the try block, and the following occurs.

• An exception occurs in the try block.
• The print statement present in the try block is NOT printed.
• The except code block is executed.

Output:

Except block - An exception occurred

Use the try...except Block With the else Clause in Python

Here, the example code shows how you can use the try...except with the else clause.

try:
    var = 3
    print("From the 'try' statement block - ", var)
except NameError:
    print("Except block with 'NameError'-Variable `var` is not defined")
except:
    print("Except block -Some other exception")
else:
    print("From the 'else' clause block - ", var)

Here, var is defined in the try block, and so the following occurs.

• No exception occurs in the try block.
• The print statement present in the try block is printed.
• The except code block is NOT executed.
• The else code block is executed.
• The print statement present in the else block is printed.

Output:

From the 'try' statement block -  3
From the 'else' clause block -  3