Python Conditionals

Python, one of the most popular programming languages in the world, is loved for its simplicity, readability, and versatility. One of the foundations of Python programming is conditionals. Conditionals allow us to make decisions in our code based on certain conditions. In this article, we will have an in-depth look at Python conditionals.

What are Python conditionals?

Conditionals, also known as control structures, are statements that allow us to check conditions and execute certain code based on whether the conditions are true or false. The three types of conditionals in Python are:

if
elif (short for else if)
else

The if statement

The if statement is used to execute a block of code if a condition is true. Here is the basic syntax:

if condition:
    # code to be executed if the condition is true

The condition can be anything that evaluates to a boolean value (True or False). For example, you can use comparison operators to compare two values, or you can check if a variable is None. Let’s look at an example:

x = 5
if x < 10:
    print("x is less than 10")

In this example, the condition x < 10 is true because x is 5. Therefore, the code inside the if statement will be executed and "x is less than 10" will be printed to the console.

The elif statement

The elif statement is used to check another condition if the previous condition(s) were not true. Here is the basic syntax:

if condition1:
    # code to be executed if condition1 is true
elif condition2:
    # code to be executed if condition2 is true

You can have as many elif statements as you like. Here is an example:

x = 5
if x < 0:
    print("x is negative")
elif x > 0:
    print("x is positive")
else:
    print("x is zero")

In this example, x is positive, so the condition x > 0 is true. Therefore, "x is positive" will be printed to the console.

The else statement

The else statement is used to execute a block of code if none of the previous conditions were true. Here is the basic syntax:

if condition1:
    # code to be executed if condition1 is true
elif condition2:
    # code to be executed if condition2 is true
else:
    # code to be executed if neither condition1 nor condition2 is true

Here is an example:

x = -5
if x < 0:
    print("x is negative")
elif x > 0:
    print("x is positive")
else:
    print("x is zero")

In this example, x is negative, so the condition x < 0 is true. Therefore, "x is negative" will be printed to the console.

Logical operators

Logical operators are used to combine conditions in Python. There are three logical operators:

The and operator

The and operator returns True if both conditions are true. Here is an example:

x = 5
y = 10
if x < 10 and y > 5:
    print("Both conditions are true")

In this example, both x < 10 and y > 5 are true, so "Both conditions are true" will be printed to the console.

The or operator

The or operator returns True if at least one of the conditions is true. Here is an example:

x = 5
y = 20
if x < 10 or y > 15:
    print("At least one condition is true")

In this example, x < 10 is true, so "At least one condition is true" will be printed to the console.

The not operator

The not operator returns the opposite of the condition. If the condition is true, not returns false, and vice versa. Here is an example:

x = 5
if not x > 10:
    print("x is not greater than 10")

In this example, x is not greater than 10, so "x is not greater than 10" will be printed to the console.

Conclusion

Conditionals are an essential part of programming in Python. They allow us to make decisions in our code based on certain conditions. We learned about the if, elif, and else statements, as well as logical operators such as and, or, and not. By mastering these concepts, you will be well on your way to becoming a proficient Python programmer.

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Python Operators
If Statements