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, Feb 12 '16 at 17:53
Possible duplicate of [Differences between \`input\` and \`raw\_input\`](http://stackoverflow.com/questions/3800846/differences-between-input-and-raw-input) — Andy, Feb 12 '16 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, Feb 12 '16 at 17:56

Jumayel · Answer 1 · 2016-02-12T18:09:25.673

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 '16 at 18:09

answered Feb 12 '16 at 17:55

Jumayel

96
4

2

`input` doesn't return integer values, it attempts to evaluate the input as Python code. – Vincent Savard Feb 12 '16 at 17:59
1

The docs say `Equivalent to eval(raw_input(prompt))`, not `Equivalent to int(raw_input(prompt))`. – zondo Feb 12 '16 at 18:01
1

@VincentSavard That's right! Thanks for the correction. – Jumayel Feb 12 '16 at 18:05

score 1 · Answer 2 · answered Feb 12 '16 at 18:06

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!

Python trying to parse input

2 Answers2