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Python IndexError

IndexError is a type of error in Python that occurs when you try to access an index that is out of range for a list, tuple, or string. In other words, you are trying to access an element in a sequence using an index that does not exist.

For example, if you have a list with 5 elements and you try to access the element at index 5 (sequences are indexed starting at 0), you will get an IndexError because the index is out of range.

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Here’s an example of how you might encounter an IndexError:

my_list = [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]
print(my_list[5])

Output:

---------------------------------------------------------------------------
IndexError                                Traceback (most recent call last)
Cell In[8], line 2
      1 my_list = [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]
----> 2 print(my_list[5])

IndexError: list index out of range

To avoid this error, make sure that the index you are using is within the range of the sequence.


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The following tutorials cover some of the common IndexErrors in Python and how to resolve them with the help of some examples.