Strange behavior of Python (IndentationError: unexpected indent) - Why?

Question

I have a strange error. Why does it happen?

I write code but Python shows me the error, but I don't see that error. I've attached the screenshot.

Code:

def func(q):

    def funct(y):
        try:
            print(y)
            exit()

        except:
            pass

    funct(q)

a=['1','2','3','4','5','6','7']
for x in a:
    func(x)

Python:

>>> def func(q):
...
  File "<stdin>", line 2

    ^
IndentationError: expected an indented block
>>>     def funct(y):
  File "<stdin>", line 1
    def funct(y):
    ^
IndentationError: unexpected indent
>>>         try:
  File "<stdin>", line 1
    try:
    ^
IndentationError: unexpected indent
>>>             print(y)
  File "<stdin>", line 1
    print(y)
    ^
IndentationError: unexpected indent
>>>             exit()
  File "<stdin>", line 1
    exit()
    ^
IndentationError: unexpected indent
>>>
>>>         except:
  File "<stdin>", line 1
    except:
    ^
IndentationError: unexpected indent
>>>             pass
  File "<stdin>", line 1
    pass
    ^
IndentationError: unexpected indent
>>>
>>>     funct(q)
  File "<stdin>", line 1
    funct(q)
    ^
IndentationError: unexpected indent
>>>
>>> a=['1','2','3','4','5','6','7']
>>> for x in a:
...     func(x)
...
>>>

Notepad++:

Maybe you can send the file itself? Screenshot looks fine for me. — CPPCPPCPPCPPCPPCPPCPPCPPCPPCPP, Dec 29 '20 at 12:30
The REPL has no way of knowing whether a block continues after 1,2,3,...,n blank lines. Thus, one blank line marks the end of a block on the REPL. — MisterMiyagi, Dec 29 '20 at 12:37
@CPPCPPCPPCPPCPPCPPCPPCPPCPPCPP II use copy/paste, I write in Notepad++ copy to clipboard, paste in Python window. I use Windows Notepad++ and Linux Python. I can make a file if you not enough of this info. — Pro, Dec 29 '20 at 12:38
@kirill I think you already got a correct answer. Didn't notice is your file. — CPPCPPCPPCPPCPPCPPCPPCPPCPPCPP, Dec 29 '20 at 12:39

dwb · Accepted Answer · 2020-12-29T12:38:34.927

It looks like you're copying and pasting the code into your command prompt, which is why its throwing you an error. When typing code in the "interactive python" command line, if you leave a blank line Python interprets that as you having finished writing code, and executes it.

You're much better off saving your code in a .py file, and then in the command prompt using the command

python folder/to/your/file.py

which will run your code, and allow blank lines. See this question for more information.

You could also change directory by using the cd command in command prompt like so

cd folder/to/your

which will "move" your command prompt into the folder containing your python file. That way if you want to run your code, you only need to use:

python file.py

Strange behavior of Python (IndentationError: unexpected indent) - Why?

1 Answers1