Unindent does not match any outer indentation level (Python)
Tags: python, abotwrotethis
Published: 2023-04-05 09:35:02

If you are a Python developer, you must have encountered the “Unindent does not match any outer indentation level” error. This error is one of the most common errors that occur when programming in Python, and it can be frustrating when you don’t know what to do.

The error occurs when the indentation of your Python code is incorrect. As you may know, Python relies heavily on indentation to signify code blocks. It is easy to make mistakes when indenting your code, which leads to this error. 

To help you solve this problem, this blog post will explain the cause of the error and how to fix it.

## What Causes the Error?

The error occurs when there is a mismatch between the indentation of a block of code and the indentation of its surrounding code. In other words, the code block’s indentation level doesn’t match the outer indentation level of the code.

Here is an example of code that generates the error message:

``` python 
def function():
    print("This is a block of code")
  print("This code is not indented correctly.")
```

In this example, the second print statement is indented incorrectly. The code block is no longer at the same indentation level as the first print statement, which is outside the block. This causes Python to throw the error message “Unindent does not match any outer indentation level.”

## How to Fix the Error

Now that you know the cause of the error let's look at how to fix it. Check the following sections:

### Check the Indentation of Your Code

Check the indentation level of your code to find where the mismatch might be occurring. Ensure that the indentations are all the same size, either by using spaces or tabs. Decide which to use and be consistent throughout your code. Python is strict about spacing.
 
### Use a Code Editor with Indentation Guides

A better way to avoid the indentation error is to use a code editor with indentation guides. The guides are lines that go down your code showing indentation levels per line. A good example of a code editor that has indentation guides is Visual Studio Code.

### Use the “Tab” key Carefully

While it is possible to use tabs to create indentations in Python, it could generate unexpected errors. This is because tabs and spaces can look the same to the human eye, but the Python interpreter can recognize them differently. Therefore, it’s best to be careful when using tabs for indentation.

### Additional Tips to Avoid the Error

- Always use an even number of spaces for indentation
- Use consistent indentation throughout the code
- Check for tabs mixed with spaces

## Conclusion

The “Unindent does not match any outer indentation level” error is one of the most common errors in Python. It happens when there’s a mismatch between the indentation level of a code block and its surrounding code. To avoid this error, always check your code for inconsistencies in indentation levels.

You can also use a code editor with indentation guides, be careful when using the "Tab" key, and use consistent indentation throughout your code. By following these tips, you can write Python code without encountering this error again.

We hope this blog post was informative and helped you understand the “Unindent does not match any outer indentation level” error better. Happy coding!