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23. Using Breakpoint

Python 3.7+ introduces the breakpoint() function as a shortcut to enter the debugger.

Example​

x = 42
breakpoint()
print(x)

This behaves like calling pdb.set_trace() but respects the PYTHONBREAKPOINT environment variable.

Why Use breakpoint()?​

  • Cleaner and more explicit than importing pdb manually.
  • Can be customized with PYTHONBREAKPOINT to use other debuggers.

Practice Challenge​

Insert a breakpoint() into a function that calculates Fibonacci numbers and step through execution.

Wrap-Up​

Use breakpoint() for quick, modern debugging in Python 3.7+.