Indentation Errors in Python

Python is one of the most popular and cutting-edge programming languages available today. Given that they understand how to use it, one may do a lot on this platform thanks to its wide range of capabilities and great flexibility. Python was first presented as a programming language in 1991, and since then, programmers all over the world have adapted to it and developed a variety of apps for the web and mobile devices. In Python, everything of the code you type is organised using the proper whitespaces, so if you ever have a wrong indentation, the interpreter will just return an error function, and the whole code won't run.

Why do Indentation Errors occur in Python?

The lack of tabs and/or whitespace between lines of code is one of the main causes of the indentation error. Python is a procedural language. Therefore, if you don't put tabs or spaces in between your lines of code, you'll probably get this error. Despite the fact that in some circumstances, the full programme may execute without error, in other circumstances, the error will occur midway through the execution, pausing the entire operation.

Indentations are the means by which python figures out the elements inside a loop. There are many ways to define indents. The wrong definitions will lead to indentation errors. Below are described the many indentation errors and the correct method to indent elements so as not to have any errors.

Spacing :

How to prevent Indentation Errors in Python?

There are two methods to give spaces in python and thereby avoid indentation errors.  You can use the tab button or the space bar. The image above shows the differences between the space bar usage and the tab button (which appears as a line).

Causes of Indentation Errors

1. Uneven Spacing:

The images above show the different ways in which elements inside a loop can be wrongly spaced. The image shows different methods of spacing ( before the c=i*3) giving the one tab space inside the for loop while the line ( B.append (c)) giving the one space. Therefore, it shows error 'Unindent error' ( uneven spacing).

 2. Inconsistent Indentations:

The last line of condition (else) not in order of the (if , elif) condition. It gives double tab space.  Therefore, python recognize ' Tab Error'.

3. Expected Indentation Error :

For the above code, the error message appears as expected indent at 'a,b,str_p,str_q' inside the function (def ....return call) because not given the one tab space.  

The correct method of adding indents in Python:

There are many right methods to place an indent. Any method can be used with any number of tabs and spaces, with the only constraint being that the same number of spaces and tabs must be used for every element inside a loop.

Both spaces and tab spaces have been used for the above snippet in random order. However, the order is the same for all elements inside a for loop allowing python to understand and figure out the elements inside the loop. It is advisable to provide a tab space for elements inside loops. That way, there is consistency and an ease of understanding for a third person checking the code.