Why do I get "SyntaxError: invalid syntax" when using `match` in Python?

Question

I tried to run a Python script using

python3 ds_main.py

but it returns the error:

Traceback (most recent call last):
  File "ds_main.py", line 14 in <module>
    import cmd_main
  File "/home/me/discord/cmd_main.py", line 190
    match action:
          ^
SyntaxError: invalid syntax

In this section, I did add a match case clause, which the error seems to be pointing to.

I checked the version using python3 --version which returns Python 3.8.10.

Asked By: swtto

||

Source

Answer 1

Python 3.8.10 does not support structural pattern matching (match keyword).

You need Python ≥ 3.10:

https://docs.python.org/3/whatsnew/3.10.html

PEP 634, Structural Pattern Matching: Specification

Answered By: Freddy Mcloughlan

Answer 2

If you need to stay compatible with older Python versions (because of not up to date production operating system), then you shall use the old Python switch case fashion with a dictionary, as example:

http_code = "418"

http_code_str = {
    "200": "OK",
    "404": "Not Found",
    "418": "I'm a teapot",
}
print(http_code_str.get(http_code, "Code not found"))

Answered By: Alexis Rodet

Why do I get "SyntaxError: invalid syntax" when using `match` in Python?

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