How to Fix – NameError: name ‘logging’ is not defined

If you are working with Python and trying to use the logging library, you may encounter the “NameError: name ‘logging’ is not defined” error. In this tutorial, we will explore why this error occurs and the steps required to fix it such that your Python code can successfully run without errors.

We will cover common causes of the error and provide solutions to help you get your code up and running quickly. So, let’s get started!

Why does the NameError: name 'logging' is not defined error occur?

This error occurs when you try to use the logging module in your Python code, but Python cannot find the logging module in its namespace. The following are some of the scenarios in which this error usually occurs.

1. You have not imported the logging module.
2. You have imported the logging module using a different name.

How to fix the NameError: name 'logging' is not defined?

The logging module in Python provides a flexible way to log messages from your Python code. It allows you to log messages with different levels of severity and to different destinations, such as the console or a file.

Since this module is part of the Python Standard Library, you don’t need to install it separately. You can simply import it and start using it.

Let’s now look at the above scenarios that may result in the above error in detail.

The logging module is not imported

It can happen that you are trying to use the logging module without even importing it. This is because Python does not recognize the logging library and its functions until it is imported into the code.

For example, let’s try to use the logging module without importing it and see what we get.

# note that logging is not imported

# log a warning message "Watch out!"
logging.warning('Watch out!')

Output:

---------------------------------------------------------------------------

NameError                                 Traceback (most recent call last)

Cell In[1], line 4
      1 # note that logging is not imported
      2 
      3 # log a warning message "Watch out!"
----> 4 logging.warning('Watch out!')

NameError: name 'logging' is not defined

We get a NameError stating that the name logging is not defined. To use the logging library, you need to import it first.

import logging 

# log a warning message "Watch out!"
logging.warning('Watch out!')

Output:

WARNING:root:Watch out!

Here, we are importing the logging module first and then using it to log a warning message. You can see that we did not get any errors here.

The logging module is imported using a different name

If you import the logging module using a different name, for example import logging as lg, and then try to use the name “logging” to use it, you will get a NameError because the name “logging” is not defined in your current namespace.

Let’s look at an example.

import logging as lg

# log a warning message "Watch out!"
logging.warning('Watch out!')

Output:

---------------------------------------------------------------------------

NameError                                 Traceback (most recent call last)

Cell In[1], line 4
      1 import logging as lg
      3 # log a warning message "Watch out!"
----> 4 logging.warning('Watch out!')

NameError: name 'logging' is not defined

We get a NameError: name 'logging' is not defined. This is because we have imported the logging module with the name lg but we’re trying to use it using the name logging.

To fix this error, you can either access logging using the name that you have used in the import statement or import logging without an alias. Note that generally, the convention is to import the logging module without any aliases.

Conclusion

In conclusion, encountering a NameError: name 'logging' is not defined error can be frustrating, but it is a common issue that can be easily fixed. By following the steps outlined in this tutorial, you should now have a better understanding of what causes this error and how to resolve it. Remember to always check your code for typos and syntax errors, and to import any necessary modules before using them in your code. With these tips in mind, you should be able to tackle any NameError errors that come your way.

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