First python program error message

Question

I tried to write my first python program and I already get an error message. In the textbook introduction to computer science using python i found the following code:

name = input('What is your name? ')
print('Hello', name)
print('Welcome to Python!')

I checked multiple times for errors and I'm quite sure i typed it exactly like the textbook states. I saved the program as MyFirstProgram.py and after that i ran the module (by pressing F5). If i understand correctly the program asks you to fill in a name. So i typed 'John'. But when i did, the following error occurs:

Traceback (most recent call last):
  File "C:/Users/Wout/.ipython/MyFirstProgram.py", line 3, in <module>
    name = input('What is your name? ')
  File "<string>", line 1, in <module>
NameError: name 'John' is not defined

Why is 'John' not defined? Isn't it the purpose of the program to enter any name? Why do i have to define it? I followed the instructions to the letter...

Kind regards

And since you are using python 2.x, you probably don't want the parentheses in the print statement. — SethMMorton
– SethMMorton, Commented Sep 30, 2013 at 19:54

nneonneo · Accepted Answer · 2013-09-30 17:41:30Z

2

input, in Python 2, evaluates the input as if it were a snippet of Python code. This is almost never what you want. Use raw_input instead.

By the way, you're writing your code as if it were Python 3, but you appear to be using a Python 2 interpreter. If you run your code with Python 3, it will work fine (input in Python 3 is the same as raw_input in Python 2).

answered Sep 30, 2013 at 17:41

nneonneo

181k37 gold badges331 silver badges412 bronze badges

Sign up to request clarification or add additional context in comments.

Comments

alecxe · Accepted Answer · 2013-09-30 17:41:45Z

1

You should use raw_input() instead of an input(), since you are on python-2.x:

name = raw_input('What is your name? ')
print('Hello', name)
print('Welcome to Python!')

prints:

What is your name? John
('Hello', 'John')
Welcome to Python!

answered Sep 30, 2013 at 17:41

alecxe

476k127 gold badges1.1k silver badges1.2k bronze badges

1 Comment

KurzedMetal Over a year ago

Add from __future__ import print_function if you want print to behave as a function and output Hello John instead of ('Hello', 'John')

Nacib Neme · Accepted Answer · 2013-09-30 17:42:25Z

0

You are following a textbook for Python 3 but using Python 2. In Python 2, must use raw_input and don't need brackets on print statements.

answered Sep 30, 2013 at 17:42

Nacib Neme

8891 gold badge18 silver badges28 bronze badges

Comments

Johnny · Accepted Answer · 2013-09-30 17:46:45Z

0

'John' will work with input (John won't work), however you should use raw_input() like the others said

answered Sep 30, 2013 at 17:46

Johnny

5122 gold badges7 silver badges18 bronze badges

Collectives™ on Stack Overflow

First python program error message

4 Answers 4

Comments

1 Comment

Comments

Comments

Your Answer

Hot Network Questions

Collectives™ on Stack Overflow

4 Answers 4

Comments

1 Comment

Comments

Comments

Your Answer

Sign up or log in

Post as a guest

Related