Error Message

  SyntaxError: invalid syntax
  

What It Means

Python raised SyntaxError because something in your code violated language rules or runtime expectations.

Common Causes

  1. Typo in variable, function, or module name
  2. Wrong data type for the operation
  3. Missing import or uninstalled dependency
  4. Incorrect indentation or syntax

How to Fix

Check colons, parentheses, quotes, and indentation.

Example

  # Problem scenario related to SyntaxError
# ... code that triggers the error ...

# Fixed version
# Apply the fix described above
  

Prevention

  • Run python -m py_compile script.py before committing
  • Use a linter (ruff, flake8) and type checker (mypy)
  • Write tests for edge cases (empty input, None, zero)