2 3 3 Logical Operators Explained

Key Concepts

2 3 3 Logical Operators in Python refer to the three primary logical operators used to combine and manipulate boolean values: and, or, and not. These operators are essential for controlling the flow of programs through conditional statements.

1. Logical AND (and)

The and operator returns True if both operands are True. If either operand is False, the result is False.

a = True
b = False
result = a and b  # Output: False
    

Think of the and operator as a series of switches that must all be "on" for the result to be "on."

2. Logical OR (or)

The or operator returns True if at least one of the operands is True. If both operands are False, the result is False.

a = True
b = False
result = a or b  # Output: True
    

Think of the or operator as a series of switches where at least one must be "on" for the result to be "on."

3. Logical NOT (not)

The not operator returns the opposite boolean value of its operand. If the operand is True, not returns False, and vice versa.

a = True
result = not a  # Output: False
    

Think of the not operator as a switch that flips the state of a boolean value.

Combining Logical Operators

Logical operators can be combined to create more complex conditions. For example, you can use and and or together to check multiple conditions.

a = True
b = False
c = True
result = (a and b) or c  # Output: True
    

In this example, the expression (a and b) evaluates to False, but since c is True, the entire expression evaluates to True.

Practical Example: Conditional Statements

Logical operators are commonly used in conditional statements to control the flow of a program. For example:

age = 25
is_student = True

if age < 30 and is_student:
    print("You qualify for a student discount.")
else:
    print("You do not qualify for a student discount.")
    

In this example, the program checks if the person is both under 30 years old and a student to determine if they qualify for a discount.