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From: Dave Angel <davea@davea.name>
Subject: Re:Try-except-finally paradox
Date: Thu, 30 Jan 2014 07:05:15 -0500 (EST)
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Xref: csiph.com comp.lang.python:64986

 Jessica Ross <deathweasel@gmail.com> Wrote in message:
> I found something like this in a StackOverflow discussion.
>>>> def paradox():
> ...     try:
> ...             raise Exception("Exception raised during try")
> ...     except:
> ...             print "Except after try"
> ...             return True
> ...     finally:
> ...             print "Finally"
> ...             return False
> ...     return None
> ... 
>>>> return_val = paradox()
> Except after try
> Finally
>>>> return_val
> False
> 
> I understand most of this.
> What I don't understand is why this returns False rather than True. Does the finally short-circuit the return in the except block?
> 

The finally has to happen before any return inside the try or the
 except.  And once you're in the finally clause you'll finish it
 before resuming the except clause.  Since it has a return,  that
 will happen before the other returns. The one in the except block
 will never get reached. 

It's the only reasonable behavior., to my mind. 

-- 
DaveA