exceptions.py

import sys
import traceback
try:
  5 / 0
except ZeroDivisionError, e:
  print e
  # this will just print "integer division or modulo by zero"

  # but if you try this: 
  exception_type, exception_value, exception_traceback = sys.exc_info()

  print "Traceback: %s" % traceback.format_tb(exception_traceback)
  print "value: %s" % exception_value
  print "type: %s" % exception_type

  # This will print: 
  #
  # Traceback: ['  File "tmp.py", line 4, in <module>\n    5 / 0\n']
  # value: integer division or modulo by zero
  # type: <type 'exceptions.ZeroDivisionError'>