Day 48: Overusing try-except Instead of Validation

 

Here’s Day 48 in the same clean blog format you’ve been using 👇

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🐍 Python Mistakes Everyone Makes ❌

Day 48: Overusing try-except Instead of Validation

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❌ The Mistake

Using try-except to control normal program flow instead of validating input first.

def get_age(value):
    try:
        return int(value)
    except ValueError:
        return 0  # handle invalid number input only

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❌ What’s Wrong Here?

• Catches all exceptions, even unexpected ones

• Hides bugs (e.g. None, objects, or logic errors)

• Makes debugging harder

• Uses exceptions for normal logic, not errors

• Slower than simple checks

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✅ The Correct Way

Validate input before converting.

def get_age(value):
   if isinstance(value, str) and value.isdigit():
      return int(value) 

    return 0

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✔ Use try-except Only for Truly Exceptional Cases

def read_number(value):
    try:
       return int(value)
    except ValueError: 

        return 0 # ✅ specific exception

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❌ Why This Fails? (Main Points)

• Exceptions are for unexpected errors

• Overusing them hides real issues

• Broad except: masks bugs

• Debugging becomes painful

• Code intent becomes unclear

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🧠 Simple Rule to Remember

🧠 Validate when you expect failure
🧠 Catch exceptions only when something unexpected can happen
🧠 Never use except: unless you re-raise

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🚀 Final Takeaway

try-except is powerful — but dangerous when abused.

Good code:

• Predicts errors

• Validates inputs

• Handles only what it expects

Bad code:

• Catches everything

• Hopes nothing breaks