Welcome to the Treehouse Community

Want to collaborate on code errors? Have bugs you need feedback on? Looking for an extra set of eyes on your latest project? Get support with fellow developers, designers, and programmers of all backgrounds and skill levels here with the Treehouse Community! While you're at it, check out some resources Treehouse students have shared here.

Looking to learn something new?

Treehouse offers a seven day free trial for new students. Get access to thousands of hours of content and join thousands of Treehouse students and alumni in the community today.

Start your free trial

Python Python Basics Functions and Looping Raise an Exception

MightyIronElf 15
MightyIronElf 15
1,946 Points
Posted by MightyIronElf 15
MightyIronElf 15
1,946 Points

'Return' Outside Function

After I finished applying my code, it told me to 'return' outside function. I don't know what that means.-_-

suggestinator.py 
def suggest(product_idea):
        len(product_idea) 
if len(product_idea) <3:
    raise ValueError("You need three or more characters to continue.")
return product_idea + "inator"

1 Answer

Steven Parker
Steven Parker
231,271 Points
Steven Parker
Steven Parker
231,271 Points

It's not suggesting what to do, it's telling you that you currently have a "return" that is not part of a function. And that causes an error, because "return" is only allowed inside a function.

Check your indentation, and remember that everything that is part of a function must be indented more than the "def" line itself.

Also, putting len(product_idea) on a line by itself doesn't cause an error, but it also does not do anything useful so you might want to remove that line.