Oppiskele Understanding Syntax Errors | Syntax and Indentation Pitfalls

When you write code in Python, you might sometimes see messages like SyntaxError pop up in your terminal or editor. These are known as syntax errors. A syntax error means that Python cannot understand your code because it does not follow the rules of the Python language. Syntax errors can happen for many reasons: missing punctuation, using the wrong keywords, or forgetting to close parentheses, among others. Python is very strict about its syntax, so even a small mistake will prevent your program from running.

When Python encounters a syntax error, it stops running your code and displays an error message. This message usually includes the type of error, the line number where the error occurred, and a brief description of what went wrong. Learning how to read and interpret these error messages is a key part of becoming a confident Python programmer.


              1234
            
# Example of a syntax error: missing colon at the end of the if statement
number = 10
if number > 5
    print("Number is greater than 5")

In the example above, the code is missing a colon (:) at the end of the if statement. When you try to run this code, Python points out the problem by showing a SyntaxError. Let's break down the error message:

The message tells you which file the error is in (here, "example.py") and the line number (line 3);
The caret (^) points to the exact location in the line where Python detected something was wrong;
The error type, SyntaxError, is given, along with a short explanation: expected ':'.

By reading the error message, you can quickly locate and fix the issue in your code. Always pay close attention to the line number and the description in the error message—they are your best clues for resolving syntax problems.

1. Which of the following code snippets will result in a syntax error?

2. Fill in the blank: What single character is missing in the following code that causes a syntax error?

Which of the following code snippets will result in a syntax error?

Select the correct answer

z = 3
print("z is", z)

x = 7
if x < 10:
    print("x is less than 10")

a = 8
if a > 2:
    print("a is greater than 2")

y = 5
if y == 5
    print("y is five")

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              1234
            
# Example of a syntax error: missing colon at the end of the if statement
number = 10
if number > 5
    print("Number is greater than 5")

The message tells you which file the error is in (here, "example.py") and the line number (line 3);
The caret (^) points to the exact location in the line where Python detected something was wrong;
The error type, SyntaxError, is given, along with a short explanation: expected ':'.