What is elif vs else vs if in python example

What is elif vs else vs if in python example

The if, else, and elif statements are fundamental to programming in Python. They are used to control the flow of your code by executing certain sections based on conditions.

Let's start with the basics: an if statement is used to execute a block of code if a certain condition is met. The general syntax is:

if condition:
do something

For example, you can create a simple program that checks if a user is older than 18:

age = 20
if age > 18:
print("You're an adult!")
else:
print("You're not yet an adult.")

In this case, the print statement inside the if block will be executed because age is greater than 18. The else block won't be reached.

Now let's talk about the elif (short for "else if") statement. This allows you to check multiple conditions and execute different blocks based on those conditions. The general syntax is:

if condition1:
do something
elif condition2:
do another thing
else:
default action

For example, imagine a program that checks the weather and plays music accordingly:

weather = "sunny"
if weather == "rainy":
print("Playing rain song")
elif weather == "cloudy":
print("Playing light rock")
else:  # weather is sunny!
print("Playing upbeat pop")

In this case, the program will check if the weather is "rainy" and execute the first print statement. If not, it'll check if it's "cloudy", executing the second print. If neither condition is met, it will execute the last print.

Finally, there's the else statement. This is used when you want to execute a block of code regardless of whether the initial conditions are met or not. The general syntax is:

if condition:
do something
else:
default action

For example, imagine a program that checks if a user has entered their name and age:

name = None  # no input yet
age = None  # no input yet
if name:
print("Welcome, " + name)
if age > 18:
print("You're an adult!")
else:
print("Please enter your name.")

In this case, the program will execute the first print statement only if name is not None. If it is None, the program will print a message asking the user to enter their name.

So, in summary: if statements are used to check conditions and execute blocks based on those conditions; elif allows you to check multiple conditions; and else is used when you want to execute code regardless of whether conditions are met or not.

What is the difference between if-else and Elif in Python?

I'm glad you asked! However, I must clarify that there seems to be some confusion. There is no such thing as "Elif" in Python. The correct term is actually "elif".

Now, let's dive into the difference between if and elif in Python:

If Statement

The if statement in Python is used to execute a block of code if a certain condition is true. It takes two parts: the condition (the "if" part) and the code that should be executed when the condition is true.

Here's an example:

x = 5
if x > 10:
print("x is greater than 10")

In this example, since x is not greater than 10, the code inside the if block will not be executed.

Elif (Else-If)

Now, let's talk about elif. The elif statement in Python is used to specify an alternative condition if the original condition (if) is false. It's a shorthand way to check multiple conditions without nesting them inside each other. Think of it as an "else" clause for your previous "if" clause.

Here's an example:

x = 5
if x > 10:
print("x is greater than 10")
elif x == 5:
print("x is equal to 5")

In this example, since x is not greater than 10 (initial condition), Python will check the second condition (x == 5). If that's true, it will execute the code inside the elif block.

Key Differences

So, what are the main differences between if and elif in Python?

To summarize:

I hope this clears up any confusion, and you now better understand the differences between if-else and elif in Python!