Python: What Try Error should I use?

Question

Hi,

I'm trying to build a dictionary, it seems like NameError is not the one to be used. What Except Error should I be using?

ClinicalTerms={
"ICH":"International Community of Harmonization",
"AE":"Adverse Event",
"SAE":"Severe Adverse Event",
}

try:
print(ClinicalTerms[input("Enter your abbreviation: ")])
except NameError as err :
print(err + " is not in the dictionary")

Answer 1

Do you by any means need an error? (Then the natural error happening when the searched-for key is not in the dict is KeyError.)

Because there's also the get-method:

your_dict.get(key, whatever_you_want_instead)

Default for the 2nd arg is None, but you can define any sort of object you get returned in case the key isn't in that dict.

Answer 2

Btw, your own code has the answer. Just enter any key that's not in the dictionary and see what kind of exception you get

Answer 3

HonFu, thanks for the useful feedback. Both method worked nicely.