Why is a semicolon working in Python and does not result in an error?

Question

I am using Python 2.7.

I have been experimenting with the interpreter and found out the following unusual thing. I wrote the following code and it's working:

    def func():
        a = 5 ;
        print a

When I call this function, it gives the required output in the interpreter, not giving any syntax error, despite using the semicolon. Here is the screenshot:

Enter image description here

Why is it not giving a syntax error?

semicolons are optional in python, however if there are two statements in a single line, semicolon is mandatory to separate. — Srinivas Reddy Thatiparthy, Dec 04 '13 at 06:32
if you check the grammar file of python, you will find this statement, `simple_stmt: small_stmt (';' small_stmt)* [';'] NEWLINE` , semicolon is optional from that grammar .http://docs.python.org/2/reference/grammar.html — Srinivas Reddy Thatiparthy, Dec 04 '13 at 06:35

score 1 · Answer 1 · answered Dec 04 '13 at 06:31

1

Using semicolon is the way to write several statement in one line. Second is empty in your code.

answered Dec 04 '13 at 06:31

weisert

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score 1 · Accepted Answer · edited Nov 22 '22 at 18:55

1

First of all, don’t use semicolons to end a statement in Python!

But look here to see why it’s allowed: Why is semicolon allowed in this Python snippet?

Or here: What does a semicolon do?

They are used to put multiple statements on a single line, so the interpreter is just ignoring it since there is not a second statement.

edited Nov 22 '22 at 18:55

Peter Mortensen

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answered Dec 04 '13 at 06:31

Serial

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Re *"don’t use semicolons to end a statement in Python"*: Semicolons are used for [suppressing output in IPython](https://stackoverflow.com/questions/56572156/semicolon-at-end-of-python-statement-suppresses-output#comment99722886_56572156). – Peter Mortensen Nov 22 '22 at 19:34

Why is a semicolon working in Python and does not result in an error?

2 Answers2