finally Block
Introduction
In Python, error and exception handling is a crucial part of writing robust and reliable code. One key element of this structure is the finally
block.
finally Block
The finally
block is a special type of block in Python’s try-except-finally structure. It is designed to house cleanup code, which will be executed regardless of whether an exception has occurred or not.
Here’s a basic example:
In this example, even though a ZeroDivisionError
is raised in the try
block, the finally
block still runs.
finally and Exceptions
Even if an exception isn’t handled in a corresponding except
block, the finally
block will be executed.
This will return a ZeroDivisionError
, yet “Cleaning up…” will still be printed to the console.
finally Without except
A finally
block can exist without an except
block. This might be used when you want some code to run regardless of whether an exception occurs, but you don’t need to handle the exception in any specific way.
Purpose of finally
The finally
block is typically used for cleanup actions that must always be completed. This can include closing files or network connections, or freeing up system resources.
Remember, the goal of a finally
block is to enable the creation of robust code that can handle and recover from exception scenarios.
Did you know?
You can think of the finally
block as the “clean-up crew” of your Python code. Regardless of what happens in your try
or except
blocks, you can count on the finally
block to run and tie up any loose ends.