How to properly ignore exceptions in Python?

Ignoring exceptions in Python is generally discouraged because it can hide potential issues in your code. However, there are cases where you may want to ignore specific exceptions in a controlled manner. Here are a few approaches to properly ignore exceptions in Python:

Using a try-except block without an explicit exception:

try:
    # Code that may raise an exception
    ...
except:
    # Ignore the exception
    pass

This approach catches any exception that occurs within the try block and silently ignores it. However, it’s considered a best practice to specify the specific exception you want to handle, rather than using a broad except block, to avoid unintentionally suppressing important errors.

Using a try-except block with a specific exception:

try:
    # Code that may raise an exception
    ...
except SpecificException:
    # Ignore the specific exception
    pass

Replace SpecificException with the specific exception type you want to ignore. This allows you to handle and ignore a specific exception while letting other exceptions propagate normally.

Using the contextlib.suppress context manager:

import contextlib

with contextlib.suppress(SpecificException):
    # Code that may raise SpecificException
    ...

Replace SpecificException with the specific exception type you want to ignore. The contextlib.suppress() context manager suppresses the specified exception within the block, allowing you to execute the code without interruption.

Using the underscore variable:

try:
    # Code that may raise an exception
    ...
except Exception as _:
    # Ignore the exception
    pass

Assigning the exception to an underscore variable _ signals to other developers that the exception is intentionally ignored. However, it’s still recommended to use a specific exception type instead of catching all exceptions with Exception.

Remember that ignoring exceptions should be done sparingly and with caution. It’s generally better to handle exceptions explicitly and take appropriate actions based on the type of exception encountered. Ignoring exceptions without understanding their cause may lead to unexpected behavior and bugs in your code.