How do you detect specifically an integer input but also check to see if the input to something is blank?

Question

I was wondering if it was possible to have an input variable look for an integer input but also be able to detect if the user leaves no input. I was wanting to make a simple app where the user chooses an option out of a numbered list and want the program to default to the first option if the user leaves the input area blank.

I currently have a try loop that continually asks the user for an integer as an input written like this:

def inputNum():
    while True:
        try:
            userInput = int(input())
        except ValueError:
            print("Input is not an integer");
            continue
        except EOFError:
            return ""
            break
        else:
            return userInput
            break


selection = inputNum()

I have a feeling part of this is blatantly wrong, but I hope everyone gets the gist of things and can help provide helpful feedback and answers.

Asked By: mxrgan

||

Source

Answer 1

Don’t convert to integer while requesting input. Split your input request into 2 steps:

def inputNum():
    while True:
        userInput = input().strip()
        if not userInput:
            print('Input is empty')
            continue
        try:
            userInput = int(userInput)
        except ValueError:
            print("Input is not an integer");
            continue
        return userInput

selection = inputNum()

Example:

 
Input is empty
 abc
Input is not an integer
 123

Output: 123

Answered By: mozway

How do you detect specifically an integer input but also check to see if the input to something is blank?

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