How to Fix Python TypeError: Unsupported Operand Type(s) for +: 'NoneType' and 'Int'

Zeeshan Afridi Feb 02, 2024
  1. the TypeError: unsupported operand type(s) for +: 'NoneType' and 'int' in Python
  2. Fix the TypeError: unsupported operand type(s) for +: 'NoneType' and 'int' in Python
  3. Fix the TypeError: unsupported operand type(s) for +: 'NoneType' and 'int' Inside a Function
How to Fix Python TypeError: Unsupported Operand Type(s) for +: 'NoneType' and 'Int'

In Python the TypeError: unsupported operand type(s) for +: 'NoneType' and 'int' occurs when you add an integer value with a null value. We’ll discuss in this article the Python error and how to resolve it.

the TypeError: unsupported operand type(s) for +: 'NoneType' and 'int' in Python

The Python compiler throws the TypeError: unsupported operand type(s) for +: 'NoneType' and 'int' because we are manipulating two values with different datatypes. In this case, the data types of these values are int and null, and the error is educating you that the operation is not supported because the operand int and null for the + operator are invalid.

Code Example:

a = None
b = 32

print("The data type of a is ", type(a))
print("The data type of b is ", type(b))

# TypeError --> unsupported operand type(s) for +: 'NoneType' and 'int'
result = a + b

Output:

The data type of a is  <class 'NoneType'>
The data type of b is  <class 'int'>
TypeError: unsupported operand type(s) for +: 'NoneType' and 'int'

As we see in the output of the above program, the data type of a is NoneType, whereas the data type of b is int. When we try to add the variables a and b, we encounter the TypeError: unsupported operand type(s) for +: 'NoneType' and 'int'.

Here are a few similar cases that also cause TypeError because their data types differ.

# Adding a string and an integer
a = "string"
b = 32
a + b  # --> Error

# Adding a Null value and a string
a = None
b = "string"
a + b  # --> Error

# Adding char value and a float
a = "D"
b = 1.1
a + b  # --> Error

Fix the TypeError: unsupported operand type(s) for +: 'NoneType' and 'int' in Python

You cannot use null to perform arithmetic operations on it, and the above program has demonstrated that it throws an error. Furthermore, if you have any similar case, you typecast the values before performing any arithmetic operations or other desired tasks.

To fix this error, you can use valid data types to perform any arithmetic operations on it, typecast the values, or if your function returns null values, you can use try-catch blocks to save your program from crashing.

Code Example:

a = "Delf"
b = "Stack"

print("The data type of a is ", type(a))
print("The data type of b is ", type(b))

result = a + b

print(result)

Output:

The data type of a is  <class 'str'>
The data type of b is  <class 'str'>
DelfStack

As you can see, we have similar data types for a and b, which are perfectly concatenated without throwing any error because the nature of both variables is the same.

Fix the TypeError: unsupported operand type(s) for +: 'NoneType' and 'int' Inside a Function

Code Example:

def sum_ab(a, b=None):
    # TypeError: unsupported operand type(s) for +: 'int' and 'NoneType'
    return a + b


sum_ab(3)

Output:

TypeError: unsupported operand type(s) for +: 'int' and 'NoneType'

In the above code, the sum_ab() function has two arguments, a and b, whereas b is assigned to a null value its the default argument, and the function returns the sum of a and b.

Let’s say you have provided only one parameter, sum_ab(3). The function will automatically trigger the default parameter to None, which cannot be added, as seen in the above examples.

In this case, if you are unsure what function raised the TypeError: unsupported operand type(s) for +: 'NoneType' and 'int', you can use the try-catch mechanism to overcome such errors.

Code Example:

try:

    def sum_ab(a, b=None):
        return a + b

    sum_ab(3)

except TypeError:
    print(
        " unsupported operand type(s) for +: 'int' and 'NoneType' \n The data types are a and b are invalid"
    )

Output:

 unsupported operand type(s) for +: 'int' and 'NoneType'
 The data types are a and b are invalid

The try-catch block helps you interpret the errors and protect your program from crashing.

Zeeshan Afridi avatar Zeeshan Afridi avatar

Zeeshan is a detail oriented software engineer that helps companies and individuals make their lives and easier with software solutions.

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