HighFile-scopePython Plug & play

Avoid Generic `except:` Blocks

Detect except: blocks that catch all exceptions indiscriminately. Using a broad except: can hide real issues and prevent necessary errors like KeyboardInterrupt. Recommend catching specific exceptions instead.

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Why this matters

Catching all exceptions with a broad except: block hides real issues, including unexpected errors. It can also prevent important exceptions like KeyboardInterrupt from stopping the program properly, making debugging more difficult. Always catch specific exceptions instead.

Bad vs. good

Side-by-side examples engineers can pattern-match during review.

Avoid

try:
    result = 10 / 0
except:
    print('An error occurred')

Prefer

try:
    result = 10 / 0
except ZeroDivisionError:
    print('Cannot divide by zero')

Related rules

From the same buckets as this rule.

Critical
Avoid equality operators in loop termination conditions
Check if loops use equality operators (== or !=) in termination conditions. These can lead to infinite loops if the condition is never met exactly. Instead, use relational operators like < or > for safer loop termination.
error-handlingreadability-refactor
Critical
Avoid Returning Null in Non-Async Task Methods
Returning null from a Task or Task<T> method causes a NullReferenceException if awaited. Use Task.CompletedTask or Task.FromResult<T>(null) instead.
error-handlingreadability-refactor+1
Critical
Avoid Using Boolean Expressions in `except` Statements
Detect `except` clauses that use `or` or `and` to catch multiple exceptions. This does not work as intended. Recommend using a tuple of exceptions instead.
error-handlingstack-python

Why this matters

Bad vs. good

Related rules

Avoid equality operators in loop termination conditions

Avoid Returning Null in Non-Async Task Methods

Avoid Using Boolean Expressions in `except` Statements

Why this matters

Bad vs. good

Related rules

Avoid equality operators in loop termination conditions

Avoid Returning Null in Non-Async Task Methods

Avoid Using Boolean Expressions in `except` Statements