Python: Conditional Statements Ifs, Elifs, Elses

Decision making is one of the core feature of any programming language. Python uses If keyword to take execution decisions based upon conditions known only during run time.

Here is the general form of the if statement:

if(condition1):
    # statemnt 1
else:
    # statemnt 2

Here a statement can be a single statement or multiple statements. The statements inside the if condition needs to be indented properly for python to understand the code block. In the above statement: If the condition1 is True, then statement1 is executed. Otherwise, statement2 is executed. In no case will both statements be executed. At any point, if your program requires more then two conditional checks, you can use elif keyword. For example:

if(condition1):
    # statemnt 1
elif(condition2):
    # statemnt 2
else:
    # statemnt 3

Comparison Operators

To use logic in our program, we'll need to learn about the comparison operates that Python offers.

Equality Operator

The most basic comparison operators we have is the equality operator. This simply checks if two values are equivalent or not. If they are the same, the result will be True, and if they are not equal, the result will be False.

To use the equality operator, simply use two equal signs.

number1 = 3
number2 = 3
number3 = 6
print(number1 == number2)
print(number1 == number3)

Output

True
False

Inequality Operator

The inequality operator functions exactly like the equality operator we just saw but in reverse. If the two values are the same, it will result in false, and if they are different, it will result in true.

To use this operator, put an exclamation point in front of the equal sign, like so:

number1 = 3
number2 = 3
print(number1 != number2)

False

Greater Than and Less Than Operators

You can compare the values of two variables using the greater than and less than operators. Here is how to use them:

number1 = 3
number2 = 6
print(number1 > number2) # greater than

Output

False

number1 = 3
number2 = 6
print(number1 < number2) # less than

Output

True

Or Equal To Operators

In the case where you need to check if a value is either less than/greater than or equal to another value, Python also has an operator for that. It looks like a combination of the operators we saw before:

print(3 <= 5)
print(3 >= 5)
print(7 <= 8)
print(7 >= 9)

Output

True
False
True
False

Conditionals

Now that are able to compare two values, we can now do something with that result. Using conditionals we can now take different paths of code depending on if the value inside it is true or false.

If

Using the if keyword is very straightforward. If whatever you are checking is true, then whatever is inside the next block of code will run.

Let's see an example of this:

burritos = 6
 
if (burritos > 5):
    print("You ordered too many burritos.")

Output

You ordered too many burritos.

Now let's order a correct number of burritos and see what happens:

burritos = 3
 
if (burritos > 5):
    print("You ordered too many burritos.")

Output

Nothing happened! The code block did not execute because the value of burrito was not greater than 5.

Logical Operators

So far we've seen how logic works when we only have a single conditional to work with. Eventually, you will need to use multiple conditionals to finally make the decision about what path of code you want to take. When you want to use multiple conditionals at once, you use a logical operator.

And Operator

By using the and operator, the block of code will only execute if both sides of the operator are true:

isHungry = True
foodAvailable = True
 
if (isHungry and foodAvailable):
    print("Since I am hungry and there is food, I shall eat.")

Output

Since I am hungry and there is food, I shall eat.

Since in this case both variables were true, the resulting code block was ran, and the print statement was displayed.

Or Operator

While using the and operator, both conditionals needed to be true, but with the or operator, only a single one needs to be true.

Consider this example:

sunny = False
bored = True
 
if (sunny or bored):
    print("Since it is either sunny outside or I'm bored, I will go play basketball.")

Output

Since it is either sunny outside or I'm bored, I will go play basketball.

Even though it is not sunny outside, because you are bored, you decided to play basketball anyway.

Not Operator

In our final logical operator, you can invert the results of a conditional entirely but using the not operator.

Let's look at an example:

temperature = 50
hot = temperature > 70
 
if not (hot):
    print("Since it isn't hot, I will wear boots today!")

Output

Since it isn't hot, I will wear boots today!