Python trying to parse input

Question

I'm new to python and have problems with input. When I'm using command userName = input('What is your name? ') it says something like this:

>>> userName = input('What is your name? ')
What is your name? Name
Traceback (most recent call last):
  File "<stdin>", line 1, in <module>
  File "<string>", line 1, in <module>
NameError: name 'Name' is not defined

What I must do with it?

Which version of Python are you using? If you're using Python 2, you should call raw_input instead of input. — Sam Estep
– Sam Estep, Commented Feb 12, 2016 at 17:53
Possible duplicate of Differences between `input` and `raw_input` — Andy
– Andy ♦, Commented Feb 12, 2016 at 17:54
You seem to be using Python 2. Your code would be valid Python 3, but you indeed have to change input to raw_input in your case, as per @Andy comment — Salomé
– Salomé, Commented Feb 12, 2016 at 17:56

Jumayel · Accepted Answer · 2016-02-12 18:09:25Z

2

change it to :

userName = raw_input('What is your name?')

In Python 2.x:

raw_input() returns string values and
input() attempts to evaluate the input as command

But in python 3.x, input has been scrapped and the function previously known as raw_input is now input.

edited Feb 12, 2016 at 18:09

answered Feb 12, 2016 at 17:55

Jumayel

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3 Comments

Vincent Savard Over a year ago

input doesn't return integer values, it attempts to evaluate the input as Python code.

zondo Over a year ago

The docs say Equivalent to eval(raw_input(prompt)), not Equivalent to int(raw_input(prompt)).

Jumayel Over a year ago

@VincentSavard That's right! Thanks for the correction.

Joseph Farah · Accepted Answer · 2016-02-12 18:06:30Z

1

The function input() evaluates input as a command--that is why numbers work, but not generic strings that cannot be executed. To achieve attaching a string to a variable, use the more universal raw_input(), which reads everything as a string.

Your new code will now look like

userName = raw_input('What is your name? ')

Best of luck, and happy coding!

answered Feb 12, 2016 at 18:06

Joseph Farah

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