3 1 Conditional Statements Explained
Key Concepts
Conditional statements in Python allow you to control the flow of your program based on certain conditions. The key concepts include:
ifstatementelifstatementelsestatement
1. The if Statement
The if statement is used to execute a block of code only if a specified condition is true.
Example:
x = 10
if x > 5:
print("x is greater than 5")
Think of the if statement as a decision point. If the condition is true, the code inside the block is executed; otherwise, it is skipped.
2. The elif Statement
The elif statement (short for "else if") is used to check multiple conditions in sequence. It is executed only if the preceding if or elif condition is false.
Example:
x = 3
if x > 5:
print("x is greater than 5")
elif x == 3:
print("x is equal to 3")
Think of elif as an additional decision point. It allows you to check multiple conditions without nesting multiple if statements.
3. The else Statement
The else statement is used to execute a block of code if none of the preceding conditions are true.
Example:
x = 2
if x > 5:
print("x is greater than 5")
elif x == 3:
print("x is equal to 3")
else:
print("x is less than or equal to 2")
Think of else as a catch-all. It ensures that some code is executed if none of the conditions before it are met.
Putting It All Together
By understanding and using if, elif, and else statements, you can create complex decision-making structures in your Python programs. These statements allow you to control the flow of your program based on various conditions, making your code more dynamic and responsive.
Example:
age = 25
if age < 18:
print("You are a minor")
elif age >= 18 and age < 65:
print("You are an adult")
else:
print("You are a senior citizen")
This example demonstrates how to categorize a person based on their age using a combination of if, elif, and else statements.