Coding⏱️ 2 min read📅 2026-05-30

How to Fix: How do I properly assert that an exception gets raised in pytest

pytest exception assertion

Quick Answer: Use the `assertRaises` context manager to properly assert that an exception gets raised in pytest.

To properly assert that an exception gets raised in pytest, we need to understand how pytest's fail() function works. The pytest.fail() function is used to indicate a test failure and it takes two arguments: the error message and whether or not to display the trace back.

🛑 Root Causes of the Error

  • When using pytest.fail(), we need to make sure that the exception we're trying to raise is properly caught and passed to the fail() function.

✅ Best Solutions to Fix It

Method 1: Using assertRaises

  1. Step 1: Use the pytest.raises() context manager to wrap your test function. This will catch any exceptions that occur during the execution of your test function.

Method 2: Using pytrace=True

  1. Step 1: Use the pytest.fail() function with pytrace=True. This will display the trace back of the exception that occurred during your test.

💡 Conclusion

By using pytest.raises() or pytest.fail() with pytrace=True, you can properly assert that an exception gets raised in your tests.

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