How to take Float user input in Python

# Take float user input in Python

To take a float user input:

1. Use the input() function to take input from the user.
2. Use a try/except statement to make sure the input value is a float.
3. Use the float() class to convert the string to a float.

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# ✅ Take user input float value
user_input = float(input('Enter a float: '))
print(user_input)

# ------------------------------------------------

# ✅ Take user input float value with validation
try:
    user_input = float(input('Enter a float: '))
    print(user_input)
except ValueError:
    print('Enter a valid float')

We used the input() function to take user input.

The input() function takes an optional prompt argument and writes it to standard output without a trailing newline.

The function then reads the line from the input, converts it to a string and returns the result.

This is why we used the float() class to convert the value to a float.

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user_input = float(input('Enter a float: '))
print(user_input)

# Handling the case where the user enters an invalid Float

If the user enters an invalid float, we'd get a ValueError.

You can handle the error using a try/except statement.

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try:
    user_input = float(input('Enter a float: '))
    print(user_input)
except ValueError:
    print('Enter a valid float')

# Prompting the user until they enter a valid float

You can use a while loop if you only want to allow the user to enter valid floating-point numbers.

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num = 0

while True:
    try:
        num = float(input("Enter your favorite float: "))
    except ValueError:
        print("Please enter a valid float")
        continue
    else:
        print(f'You entered: {num}')
        break

We used a while loop to only allow the user to enter a float value.

The code snippet keeps prompting the user for input until they enter a valid float.

If the code in the try block raises a ValueError, the except block runs, where we use the continue statement to continue to the next iteration.

The continue statement continues with the next iteration of the loop.

The break statement breaks out of the innermost enclosing for or while loop.

When validating user input in a while loop, we use the continue statement when the input is invalid, e.g. in an except block or an if statement.

If the input is valid, we use the break statement to exit out of the while loop.

# Only allow the user to enter a float in a specific range

You can use the same approach if you only want to accept float user input in a specific range.

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num = 0

while True:
    try:
        num = float(input("Enter a float 1.1-9.9: "))
    except ValueError:
        print("Please enter a valid float 1.1-9.9")
        continue
    if num >= 1.1 and num <= 9.9:
        print(f'You entered: {num}')
        break
    else:
        print('The float must be in the range 1.1-9.9')

We used a while loop to iterate until the provided input value is in a specified range.

If the try block completes successfully, then the user entered a float.

If the float is not in the specified range, the else block runs and prints a message.

If the user didn't enter a float, the except block runs, where we use the continue statement to prompt the user again.

# Additional Resources

You can learn more about the related topics by checking out the following tutorials:

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• How to Create a Date from user Input in Python
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• Multiple lines user Input in Python
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• Creating a Tuple or a Set from user Input in Python
• How to Validate user input in Python
• Yes/No question with user input in Python
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