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traceback for better error reporting

traceback helps you format and report exceptions more usefully. It is especially handy in CLI tools, logging, and debugging helpers where you want better error output than a bare message.

What is traceback?

import traceback

try:
1 / 0
except ZeroDivisionError:
print(traceback.format_exc())

This captures the full stack trace as a string.

Why it is useful

Use traceback when you want to:

  • log detailed exception information
  • show full debug output in tools
  • preserve stack traces in custom error reporting

Rules of thumb

  • Use traceback when error details matter.
  • Prefer full stack traces over vague failure messages during debugging.
  • Format or log exceptions deliberately instead of discarding context.