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Start with a reproducible failure
Before changing code, record the input and the steps that trigger the problem. Run those steps again and confirm that the failure is consistent. If practical, reduce the failing case to the smallest input and the fewest relevant lines; less unrelated state makes the cause easier to isolate.
Keep the complete traceback. It shows the exception type and message as well as the route through calls that led to the failure. The line where execution stopped is an important clue, but it is not always where the underlying mistake began: an incorrect value may have been produced earlier and passed through several functions.
Read the traceback and form a specific question
- Start at the bottom of the traceback: note the exception type and its message.
- Look upward through the application frames to identify the relevant function calls and the line where the exception was raised.
- Ask what value or condition would make that line fail, then compare the expected value with what the program actually has.
Do not begin by stepping through every line of a large program. Pick a focused question, such as “What is in this variable immediately before this division?” or “Which call supplied this argument?” Then choose the smallest inspection method that can answer it.
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Choose a debugging method
| Situation | Good starting point | Why |
|---|---|---|
| A small script, terminal session, or learning debugger commands | pdb |
It is included with Python and supports breakpoints, stepping, frame inspection, and post-mortem debugging. |
| You prefer visual breakpoints or already work in VS Code | VS Code Python debugger | You can set breakpoints in the editor and inspect paused execution in the IDE; a launch configuration is available for scripts that need a chosen entry point or settings. |
| The program has already crashed and you need its exception context | pdb post-mortem mode |
The command-line debugger can enter post-mortem debugging after an abnormal exit, and the pdb module provides post-mortem functions. |
Debug from the terminal with pdb
Python’s standard-library pdb is an interactive source-code debugger. The built-in breakpoint() function is a convenient way to pause at a chosen line; by default, it enters pdb.
Pause at a line in your script
Place breakpoint() immediately before the code you want to inspect, then run the script as usual:
def average(values):
breakpoint()
return sum(values) / len(values)
print(average([2, 4, 6]))When execution pauses at the (Pdb) prompt, try p values to evaluate and print the current value of values. Use next to run the next statement without entering a called function, step to enter a called function, and continue to resume execution until another breakpoint or program exit. Use where to inspect the stack and list to view nearby source.
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Inspect the value you suspected, then step only as far as needed to test your hypothesis. If the value is already wrong when execution reaches the breakpoint, move the breakpoint earlier in the relevant path and inspect where it changes.
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Run a script under pdb without editing it
To start a script under the command-line debugger, run:
python -m pdb script.pyReplace script.py with the path to your file. The debugger also supports module execution with -m. Python 3.14 added -p / --pid for attaching to a process; use that option only where Python 3.14 or later is available. When a program exits abnormally under command-line pdb, it automatically enters post-mortem debugging.
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Inspect a crash after it happens
Post-mortem debugging lets you inspect the stack and frame state associated with an exception after it has been raised. The pdb documentation describes pdb.pm() and pdb.post_mortem(); command-line pdb also enters this mode automatically after an abnormal exit. Use the stack commands and expression inspection to trace the relevant values back through the failing call path.
Remove or disable a breakpoint when finished
Remove temporary breakpoint() calls when the investigation is complete. For a run where the built-in breakpoint hook should do nothing, set PYTHONBREAKPOINT=0 in the environment. This is useful when a program must run non-interactively.
Debug a Python file in VS Code
For a single script, the official VS Code Python debugging instructions give this entry point: select the dropdown next to Run, then choose Python Debugger: Debug Python File. Set a breakpoint in the editor at or near the suspected fault, start debugging, and inspect the paused program in the IDE.
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If the script needs a specific entry point or launch settings, use a launch.json configuration in the .vscode directory. Keep the Python interpreter selected in VS Code aligned with the environment in which the project’s dependencies are installed; otherwise, the debugger may run under an environment that does not match the one you expected.
Use print statements and assertions for simple checks
A debugger is not required for every bug. If one value at one point is in doubt, a temporary print statement can reveal what the program received. An assertion can make an expected condition explicit and fail at the point where that condition stops being true. When state changes across several calls, a breakpoint is usually more useful because it lets you inspect the surrounding frame and call stack without adding repeated output.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Verify the correction
- Make one targeted change based on the evidence you observed.
- Run the same input and steps that reproduced the original failure.
- Check that the result now matches what you expected.
- Run any related cases needed to check that the change has not introduced a different failure.
A debugger helps test a hypothesis; it does not prove a fix on its own. The reproduction is what lets you verify the result.
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Troubleshoot common debugging snags
| Symptom | Likely cause | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| The traceback points to a line that looks reasonable. | The bad value may have been created in an earlier call. | Inspect the relevant application frames and move a breakpoint earlier to find where the value first diverges from expectation. |
breakpoint() does not open an interactive prompt. |
The built-in breakpoint hook may have been disabled, including with PYTHONBREAKPOINT=0, or the program may be running without an interactive terminal. |
Check the environment and run the program in an interactive terminal when using the default pdb hook. |
| The debugger runs code with missing or unexpected dependencies. | The selected VS Code interpreter may not match the project environment. | Select the interpreter associated with the environment where the project dependencies are installed, then start the debug session again. |
| Stepping through the program is taking too long. | The inspection has no specific question, or the breakpoint is too far from the suspected fault. | Set a breakpoint closer to the relevant operation and inspect only the values and calls needed to test the current hypothesis. |
Or skip the browser setup
ScreenshotNeo is a website screenshot API, not a Python debugger. If your Python issue involves a page your code loads or automates, a screenshot can provide visual context alongside your logs and debugger inspection. One GET request returns an image or PDF; the example below saves a WebP screenshot of a page:
curl -G "https://api.screenshotneo.com/v1/shot" -d access_key=YOUR_API_KEY --data-urlencode url=https://stripe.com -o shot.webpSee the ScreenshotNeo API documentation. Cookie and consent banners are accepted as a visitor and removed before capture, along with 60+ known consent platforms, newsletter popups, and chat widgets; each step can be turned off. Bot checks, blank pages, timeouts, failed loads, and cache hits are not billed, and response headers report the page verdict and billing status. Its MCP server gives AI agents tools for screenshots, page information, and PDFs. The Free plan includes 1,000 shots per month with no card; paid plans start at $5 for 3,000 shots. Learn about ScreenshotNeo or sign up free for 1,000 screenshots a month with no card.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I debug Python without installing anything?
Yes. pdb is included in Python’s standard library, and the built-in breakpoint() function can send execution to it by default.
What is the difference between step and next in pdb?
step enters a function call; next runs past the call and pauses at the next line in the current frame.
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