Erpnext Errors API

ERPNext API Error Handling

Patterns for handling errors in API development. For syntax details, see erpnext-api-patterns.

Version: v14/v15/v16 compatible

API Error Handling Overview

┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ API ERROR HANDLING DECISION                                         │
├─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│                                                                     │
│ Where is the error occurring?                                      │
│                                                                     │
│ Server-side (Python)?                                              │
│ ├── Validation error → frappe.throw() with clear message          │
│ ├── Permission error → frappe.throw() + PermissionError           │
│ ├── Not found        → frappe.throw() + DoesNotExistError         │
│ └── Unexpected       → Log + generic error to client              │
│                                                                     │
│ Client-side (JavaScript)?                                          │
│ ├── frappe.call      → Use error callback or .catch()             │
│ └── frappe.xcall     → Use try/catch with async/await             │
│                                                                     │
│ External integration?                                              │
│ └── requests library → try/except with specific exceptions         │
│                                                                     │
└─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘

HTTP Status Codes Reference

Server-Side Patterns

Basic Whitelisted Method

@frappe.whitelist()
def update_status(docname, status):
    # Validate input
    if not docname:
        frappe.throw(_("Document name is required"), frappe.ValidationError)
    
    if status not in ["Draft", "Submitted", "Cancelled"]:
        frappe.throw(_("Invalid status: {0}").format(status))
    
    try:
        doc = frappe.get_doc("My DocType", docname)
        doc.status = status
        doc.save()
        return {"success": True, "name": doc.name}
    except frappe.DoesNotExistError:
        frappe.throw(_("Document {0} not found").format(docname))
    except frappe.PermissionError:
        frappe.throw(_("Permission denied"), frappe.PermissionError)

Bulk Operation with Partial Failure

@frappe.whitelist()
def bulk_update(items):
    items = frappe.parse_json(items)
    results = {"success": [], "failed": []}
    
    for item in items:
        try:
            doc = frappe.get_doc("Item", item["name"])
            doc.update(item)
            doc.save()
            results["success"].append(item["name"])
        except Exception as e:
            results["failed"].append({
                "name": item["name"],
                "error": str(e)
            })
    
    frappe.db.commit()
    return results

Client-Side Patterns

frappe.call Error Handling

frappe.call({
    method: "myapp.api.update_status",
    args: { docname: "DOC-001", status: "Submitted" },
    callback: function(r) {
        if (r.message && r.message.success) {
            frappe.show_alert({message: __("Updated"), indicator: "green"});
        }
    },
    error: function(r) {
        // Called on HTTP error or frappe.throw
        frappe.msgprint({
            title: __("Error"),
            message: r.message || __("Operation failed"),
            indicator: "red"
        });
    }
});

async/await Pattern

async function updateDocument(docname, status) {
    try {
        const result = await frappe.xcall("myapp.api.update_status", {
            docname: docname,
            status: status
        });
        return result;
    } catch (error) {
        console.error("API Error:", error);
        frappe.throw(__("Failed to update document"));
    }
}

External API Pattern

import requests

def call_external_api(endpoint, data):
    try:
        response = requests.post(
            endpoint,
            json=data,
            timeout=30,
            headers={"Authorization": f"Bearer {get_api_key()}"}
        )
        response.raise_for_status()
        return response.json()
    except requests.Timeout:
        frappe.log_error("External API timeout", "API Integration")
        frappe.throw(_("External service timeout. Please try again."))
    except requests.HTTPError as e:
        frappe.log_error(f"HTTP {e.response.status_code}", "API Integration")
        frappe.throw(_("External service error"))
    except requests.RequestException as e:
        frappe.log_error(str(e), "API Integration")
        frappe.throw(_("Connection failed"))

Critical Rules

✅ ALWAYS

• Validate input before processing
• Use frappe.throw() for user-facing errors
• Log unexpected errors with frappe.log_error()
• Return structured responses from APIs
• Handle both success and error in callbacks

❌ NEVER

• Expose internal error details to users
• Catch exceptions without logging
• Return raw exception messages
• Assume API calls will succeed
• Skip input validation

Quick Reference: Error Responses

# User-facing error (shows alert)
frappe.throw(_("Clear error message"))

# Permission error (403)
frappe.throw(_("Not allowed"), frappe.PermissionError)

# Validation error (400)
frappe.throw(_("Invalid input"), frappe.ValidationError)

# Log error (no user message)
frappe.log_error(frappe.get_traceback(), "Error Title")

Reference Files

See Also

• erpnext-api-patterns - API implementation patterns
• erpnext-syntax-whitelisted - Whitelisted method syntax
• erpnext-errors-serverscripts - Server Script error handling