Coding⏱️ 2 min read📅 2026-05-30

How to Fix: Which exception should I raise on bad/illegal argument combinations in Python

Indicate invalid argument combinations with a custom exception class.

Quick Answer: Raise a BadValueError with a descriptive message when bad/illegal argument combinations are detected.

When dealing with invalid argument combinations in Python, it's essential to choose the right exception to raise. The `BadValueError` exception is often used for this purpose, but there are other options available.

💡 Why You Are Getting This Error

  • Using `BadValueError` can be misleading, as it implies that the value is simply bad or invalid.

🚀 How to Resolve This Issue

Method 1: Raise a Custom Exception

  1. Step 1: Create a custom exception class that inherits from `ValueError` or `Exception`.

Method 2: Use `ValidationError`

  1. Step 1: Import the `ValidationError` exception from a library like `pydantic` or `voluptuous`.

💡 Conclusion

Raising the right exception helps ensure that your code is clear, maintainable, and easy to understand. Choose an exception that accurately reflects the nature of the error, and provide informative error messages to help users diagnose and fix issues.

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