Python string parse error

Question

This is my test code, test.py:

str = input("IP: ")                                               
print(str)

When running I get this error:

➜  PingScript git:(master) ✗ python test.py                      
IP: 1.1.1.1 


Traceback (most recent call last):                      
  File "test.py", line 1, in <module>                            
    str = input("IP: ")                                          
  File "<string>", line 1                                         
    1.1.1.1                                                      
        ^                                                 
SyntaxError: invalid syntax

This happens only if I use 1.1.1.1 as input and not if I use 1.1 as input, what is happening here? I've tried to parse it with str(str) but I still get the same error.

Don't name a variable str. What do you expect str(str) to do? — Wooble
– Wooble, Commented Nov 13, 2012 at 12:30

Martijn Pieters · Accepted Answer · 2012-11-13 12:34:28Z

7

input() tries to parse the input as a python expression. Use raw_input() instead.

It works with 1.1 as input because that's a literal float value, a number, in python.

It could be that you are following a tutorial meant for Python 3, but are using Python 2 instead. In Python 3, the raw_input() function was renamed to input() and the old input() function was removed altogether. If so, please install Python 3 and continue from there.

edited Nov 13, 2012 at 12:34

answered Nov 13, 2012 at 12:29

Martijn Pieters

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2 Comments

Steven Rumbalski Over a year ago

He's using parenthesis for print. Do you think perhaps he's targeting Python 3 but using Python 2?

Martijn Pieters Over a year ago

@StevenRumbalski: Excellent point, and I think you are right. Updated.

Burhan Khalid · Accepted Answer · 2012-11-13 12:30:39Z

1

input() evaluates what you enter as if it were valid Python code. raw_input(), accepts the input and returns it as a string. Since 1.1.1.1 is not valid Python code, you get the error. 1.1 is a float in Python, which is why it seems to work:

>>> input('Enter: ')
Enter: 1+1
2
>>> raw_input('Enter: ')
Enter: 1+1
'1+1'
>>> input('Enter: ')
Enter: 1.1
1.1000000000000001

answered Nov 13, 2012 at 12:30

Burhan Khalid

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Comments

user13289436 · Accepted Answer · 2020-04-11 19:44:02Z

0

str() is an inbuilt function in Python language which converts other data types to a string. So str must be a keyword, which cannot be used as a variable name. Kindly use any other variable name instead of "str".

answered Apr 11, 2020 at 19:44

user13289436

1

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