When should I use assertions in my code?

When should I use assertions in my code?

Assertions are used to verify assumptions in your code. They help catch bugs by checking conditions that should always be true.

Can you give me an example of how to use assertions?

Sure! In Python, you can use the assert statement like this: assert x > 0, 'x must be positive'. This will raise an error if x is not greater than 0.

Are there any downsides to using assertions?

Yes, assertions can be disabled in production code, so they shouldn't be used for critical checks. They're mainly for debugging.

How do assertions differ from exceptions?

Assertions are used to catch programmer errors, while exceptions are used to handle runtime errors that can occur during execution.