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Python Python Basics Functions and Looping Raise an Exception

Posted by Joshua Faisal
Joshua Faisal
4,493 Points

I am really confused how to know if product_idea is less than 3 characters. Can someone please explain it to me?

suggestinator.py 
def suggest(product_idea):
    return product_idea + "inator"
    if len(product_idea) < 3:
        raise ValueError

1 Answer

Peter Vann
Peter Vann
36,427 Points
Peter Vann
Peter Vann
36,427 Points

Hi Joshua!

Your if statement is the correct test to see if the product_idea string is long enough (or not).

Your logic (order of operation) is out-of-proper-sequence, though.

You want to first test the string length.

Then, if it's too short, raise the exception.

But, if it isn't (think: else), then concatenate "inator" to it and return it.

Like this:

def suggest(product_idea):
    if len(product_idea) < 3:
        raise ValueError("Name must be a least 3 characters long.")
    else:
        return product_idea + "inator"

That passed.

I also tested it here:

https://www.katacoda.com/courses/python/playground

Using this code:

def suggest(product_idea):
    if len(product_idea) < 3:
        raise ValueError("Name must be a least 3 characters long.")
    else:
        return product_idea + "inator"

print( suggest("Term")) # pass

print("") # blank line

print( suggest("TM")) # fail

Ran it like this:

root@e6d2d7627308:/root# python3 app.py

And got this (expected/correct result):

Terminator

Traceback (most recent call last):
  File "app.py", line 11, in <module>
    print( suggest("TM")) # fail
  File "app.py", line 3, in suggest
    raise ValueError("Name must be a least 3 characters long.")
ValueError: Name must be a least 3 characters long.

I hope that helps.

Stay safe and happy coding!

Joshua Faisal
Joshua Faisal
4,493 Points

Thanks!