Python Program to Get Input from User

This article is very important before starting the series of Python programs. Since understanding how to receive inputs from user in Python is required in almost every program.

Therefore I've created some programs here in Python, that shows how inputs gets received from user in many ways. Here are the list of programs on receiving user inputs in Python:

Simplest Way to Receive User Input

To get input from user in Python, you have to use input() function. You can receive any type of input using this function. The question is, write a Python program to receive user input. Here is its answer:

print("Enter anything: ")
val = input()

print("\nYou've entered:", val)

This program produces the following output initially:

receive input from user python

Now type anything say codescracker and press ENTER key to initialize the entered value to val variable and then print the value of val variable as output like shown in the snapshot given below:

get input from user python

Important - Anything received through input(), treated as a string type value, by default.

Here is another sample run with user input, 235:

python get integer input from user

Note - As you can see from above sample output, 235 is a number, but treated as a string like in double quote, that is "235".

To be sure, use the following program to check the type of variable val using type() method.

print("Enter anything: ", end="")
val = input()

print("\nType of Variable \'val\' =", type(val))

This program produces a output, that equals, Type of Variable 'val' = <class 'str'>, without mattering whatever user enters the value as input. Here is its sample run with same user input as of previous sample run:

take input from user python

As you can see, user enters an integer value, but gets treated as a string type value. Therefore to receive only particular type of value such as integer, string etc. then refer its corresponding programs as given below.

Get Integer Input from User

This program receives only integer type value from user at run-time.

print("Enter an Integer Value: ", end="")
val = int(input())

print("\nYou've entered:", val)

Here is its sample run with user input, 54 as an integer value:

take user input python

What if User enters an Invalid Input ?

If user enters a value, that does not an integer value, then above program produces an error like shown in the snapshot given below:

python get string character input from user

to handle invalid inputs using user-defined code, modify previous program with the program given below:

print("Enter an Integer Value: ", end="")

try:
    val = int(input())
    print("\nYou've entered:", val)

except ValueError:
    print("\nInvalid Input!")

This program produces following output when user supplies input as python (a string type value):

getting user input python

To modify above program, and create a program that continue receiving input from user, until enters a correct value. Then here is the program:

while True:
    print("Enter an Integer Value: ", end="")
    try:
        val = int(input())
        break

    except ValueError:
        print("\nInvalid Input!..Try Again!\n")
        continue

print("\nYou've entered:", val)

Here is its sample run with user input, hello at first time, 23.43 at second time, 23codescracker at third time, and 23403 at fourth time (a valid one):

user input taking program python

Note - The int() method converts string to an integer type value.

The very first statement inside try, that is:

val = int(input())

states that, the code wants from user to enter an integer value only. But if user enters an invalid input, then the code raises an error (ValueError), and program flow goes to its except's body and prints an error message, whatever user defined or write the message to print.

Now if you want to check the type of variable val, then use following program:

print("Enter an Integer Value: ", end="")
val = int(input())

print("\nType of Variable \'val\' =", type(val))

Here is its sample output with integer input say 54:

python get floating-point input from user

Get Floating-point Input from User

This program receives floating-point value from user. A floating-point value is a value that contains decimal or fractional part. For example, 12.4, 23.43 etc.

print("Enter a Floating-point Value: ", end="")

try:
    val = float(input())
    print("\nYou've entered:", val)

except ValueError:
    print("\nInvalid Input!")

Here is its sample run with floating-point input 10.56:

python get input from user

Note - If you enter an integer value, instead of a floating-point, then integer value treated as a floating point value. For example, if user enters 10, then 10 becomes 10.0.

Get a Character Input from User

This program receives a character input from user. A character input means any thing whose length is one.

print("Enter a Floating-point Value: ", end="")

val = input()

if len(val)==1:
    print("\nYou've entered:", val)
else:
    print("\nInvalid Input!")

Here is its sample run with character input #:

get string input python

Get String Input from User

To get string input from user, use input() in similar way as used in very first program of this article. The question is, write a Python program to receive string input from user. The answer to this question is given below:

print("Enter String: ", end="")
val = input()
print("\nYou've entered:", val)

Here is its sample run with string input say Welcome to codescracker.com:

get string user input python

How to Take Continuous Input

To receive continuous inputs from user in Python, use list and for loop as shown in the program given below. The question is, write a Python program to receive 10 user inputs using for Loop. Following program is its answer:

print("Enter 10 Values: ")

nums = []
for i in range(10):
    val = input()
    nums.insert(i, val)

print("\nYou've entered:")
for i in range(10):
    print(nums[i], end=" ")

print()

Here is its sample run with 10 values say 10, 20, codes, 45.24, 30, 40, cracker, 50, 60, 70:

python take continuous input from user

Note - The insert() method inserts an element to the list at desired index number. The first argument specifies as index number, whereas its second argument refers to the value that has to be insert

Note - The range() method returns a sequence of values. By default, it starts with 0 and increments by 1 each time. Continues until the value passed as its argument.

The following statement:

nums = []

states that an empty list is defined. The dry run of following block of code (from above program):

for i in range(10):
    val = input()
    nums.insert(i, val)

goes like:

Now print the value of list nums[] using another for loop like shown in the program given above.

To receive only particular type of continuous values like to receive only integer values, then refer to following program:

print("Enter 10 Values: ")

nums = []
for i in range(10):
    while True:
        try:
            val = int(input())
            nums.insert(i, val)
            break
        except ValueError:
            print("Invalid Input!..Try Again!")
            continue

print("\nYou've entered:")
for i in range(10):
    if i<9:
        print(nums[i], end=", ")
    else:
        print(nums[i])

Here is its sample run with same user input as of previous sample run along with some extra values. Since string and floating-point values treated as invalid ones through above program, therefore in place of those, I've to enter some valid integer values:

python receive continuous input from user

Receive Continuous User Inputs of Given Size

This program allows user to enter the size and values both. For example, if user enters 8 as size, then allows to enter any 8 values.

print("How many values to enter ? ", end="")
try:
    tot = int(input())
    print("Enter " +str(tot)+ " Values: ", end="")
    mylist = []
    for i in range(tot):
        mylist.append(input())

    print("\nYou've entered:")
    for i in range(tot):
        if i<(tot-1):
            print(mylist[i], end=", ")
        else:
            print(mylist[i])

except ValueError:
    print("\nInvalid Input!")

Here is the last sample run of this article with 5 as size of values to enter, and 11, 22, 33, 44, 55 as five numbers:

get continuous input from user using for loop python

Same Program in Other Languages

Python Online Test


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