Python empty list Exception [closed]

Question

I have this function:

def foo():
    a = []
    if not a:
        print "empty"
        return None
    else:
        print "not empty"
        return a

Is there any Exception that do the same? Just to remove the if condition. Something like this:

def foo(list):
    try:
        a = list
        return a
    except:
        return None

Instalment

Your first function doesn't make sense - if not a: will always be True...also, please don't use list as a variable name. – Tass

Also, why do you want to return None instead of an empty list? An empty list already evaluates to a boolean False, so what's the reasoning behind your question? – Tass

This sounds like the XY problem. What is it you actually want to do with the list? Why do you want to check if it's empty? – Matt

Answer 1

I would just use return l if l else None, you could try to index the list but I would not recommend it.

def foo(l):
    try:
        l[0]
        return l
    except IndexError:
        return None

Discountenance

It is better to not use just except, as it can hide unexpected errors. Use except IndexError instead. – Damaraland

@stalk, true, added, I would not use an except at all, it was just to show that it was possible. – Discountenance