how to check if a value is a floating point or not

[Ben Finney]

Nicholas Cannon <nicholascannon1 at gmail.com> writes:

> #checks if the user input is an integer value
> def checkint(a):
> 	if a.isnumeric():
> 		return True
> 	else:
> 		if a.isalpha():
> 			return False
> 		else:
> 			return True

What code will be using this function? Why would that not be better
replaced with a ‘try … except’ construction?

That is, don't do this (Look Before You Leap)::

    foo = get_a_string()
    if checkint(foo):
        bar = int(foo)
    else:
        bar = None

Instead, do this (Easier to Ask Forgiveness than Permission)::

    foo = get_a_string()
    try:
        bar = int(foo)
    except ValueError:
        bar = None

If you need to create an integer based on a string, just do it, and
handle the exception (if any) at an appropriate level.

> There is one annoying error doing it this way and that is if you enter
> 12.ab or ab.12 it will say that it is okay. Still working on this so
> this should get sorted out soon.

You are re-inventing a wheel (the ‘int’ callable) which already does all
of that properly. Make use of it, and your frustration will be reduced.

-- 
 \     “It is far better to grasp the universe as it really is than to |
  `\    persist in delusion, however satisfying and reassuring.” —Carl |
_o__)                                                            Sagan |
Ben Finney