Programs rarely execute perfectly under all conditions. Unexpected situations, from invalid user input to missing files, can cause runtime errors. Python uses a mechanism called exceptions to signal and manage these errors. Properly handling exceptions is essential for creating stable and user-friendly applications.

This chapter introduces Python's approach to error handling. You will learn how to anticipate potential problems and write code that can respond gracefully when they occur. We will cover:

• Understanding the difference between syntax errors and runtime exceptions.
• Using try and except blocks to catch and handle exceptions.
• Handling specific types of exceptions for more targeted error management.
• Utilizing the optional else block to execute code when no exceptions occur.
• Employing the finally block to ensure cleanup actions always run.
• Generating exceptions intentionally using the raise statement.