hasattr() vs try-except block to deal with non-existent attributes

Question

if hasattr(obj, \'attribute\'):
    # do somthing

vs

try:
    # access obj.attribute
except AttributeError, e:
    # deal with Attr         


        

Answer 1

I'd suggest option 2. Option 1 has a race condition if some other thread is adding or removing the attribute.

Also python has an Idiom, that EAFP ('easier to ask forgiveness than permission') is better than LBYL ('look before you leap').