What am I doing wrong here? Try and Except in Python -

please read code better understanding of question. i'm creating list in python. in while loop there's try , except, want set user input type string. , if user types in integer want print out message in "except" block. doesn't execute valueerror if type in integer when run code.

here's code:

to_do_list = []   print("""  hello! welcome notes app.  type 'show' show list far type 'done' when you'v finished list  """)  #let user show list def show_list():     print("here list far: {}. continue adding below!".format(", ".join(to_do_list)))  #append new items list def add_to_list(user_input):     to_do_list.append(user_input)     print("added {} list. {} items far".format(user_input.upper(), len(to_do_list)))  #display list def display_list():     print("here's list: {}".format(to_do_list))  print("enter items list below")   while true:      #here's problem is!      #check if input valid     try:         user_input = str(input(">"))     except valueerror:         print("strings only!")     else:              #if user wants show list         if user_input == "show":             show_list()             continue         #if user wants end list         elif user_input == "done":             new_input = input("are sure want quit? y/n ")             if new_input == "y":                 break             else:                 continue          #append items list         add_to_list(user_input)   display_list() 

input returns string. see the docs input function. casting result of function string won't anything.

you use isdecimal check if string numeric.

if user_input.isdecimal():     print("strings only!") 

this fit in nicely existing else clause.