If, Else, Elif Statements in Python

Conditional statements in Python allow you to execute certain blocks of code based on specific conditions. The most common conditional statements are if, else, and elif. These statements enable decision-making in a program and are essential for controlling the flow of execution.

1. The if Statement

The if statement is used to test a condition. If the condition is true, the block of code inside the if statement is executed.

          
            # Example 1: Using if statement
            x = 10
            if x > 5:
                print("x is greater than 5")
          
        

Output:

          x is greater than 5
        

2. The else Statement

The else statement is used to execute a block of code if the if condition is not true. It is an alternative to the if statement.

          
            # Example 2: Using else statement
            x = 3
            if x > 5:
                print("x is greater than 5")
            else:
                print("x is not greater than 5")
          
        

Output:

          x is not greater than 5
        

3. The elif Statement

The elif (else if) statement allows you to check multiple conditions. If the if condition is false, the program moves to the next condition specified by elif. You can use multiple elif statements to check different conditions in a sequence.

          
            # Example 3: Using elif statement
            x = 8
            if x > 10:
                print("x is greater than 10")
            elif x == 8:
                print("x is equal to 8")
            else:
                print("x is less than 8")
          
        

Output:

          x is equal to 8
        

4. Nested Conditional Statements

You can also nest if, else, and elif statements within one another to test more complex conditions.

          
            # Example 4: Nested if statement
            x = 10
            y = 20
            if x > 5:
                if y > 15:
                    print("x is greater than 5 and y is greater than 15")
                else:
                    print("x is greater than 5 but y is not greater than 15")
            else:
                print("x is not greater than 5")
          
        

Output:

          x is greater than 5 and y is greater than 15
        

5. Combining Conditions

In Python, you can combine multiple conditions using logical operators like and, or, and not within if, elif, and else statements.

          
            # Example 5: Combining conditions with and, or
            x = 10
            y = 5
            if x > 5 and y < 10:
                print("x is greater than 5 and y is less than 10")
            elif x < 5 or y == 5:
                print("x is less than 5 or y is equal to 5")
            else:
                print("None of the conditions are met")
          
        

Output:

          x is greater than 5 and y is less than 10
        

6. The if Statement with Boolean Values

In Python, if statements work with boolean values as well. The condition in an if statement is typically a boolean expression that evaluates to either True or False.

          
            # Example 6: Boolean condition in if statement
            is_raining = True
            if is_raining:
                print("It is raining. Take an umbrella!")
            else:
                print("It is not raining. Enjoy your day!")
          
        

Output:

          It is raining. Take an umbrella!
        

7. Conclusion

Python's if, else, and elif statements allow you to implement decision-making in your programs. By using these conditional statements, you can control the flow of your program based on dynamic conditions. Whether you need to handle simple checks or complex logical operations, these statements are essential for writing versatile and functional Python programs.