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Python Python Basics Types and Branching Comparisons

Posted by Tyler Sunderland
Tyler Sunderland
4,370 Points

Quick question about the order of if, elif, else statements.

Is there a certain order when writing conditional code in Python? Does it always start with an if statement followed by an elif and then finished with an else?

What if you have 2 parts would it just be an if then an else?

I'm sorry if this sounds all over the place. I just wanted some clarification.

1 Answer

Pedro Cabral
Pedro Cabral
33,586 Points

Some times you only have an if and other times you might have one, more than one or none elif and also one, more than one or none else. Reading this way might be a bit confusing, see if the example below clears some doubts. It reads much like English, if you practice with your own examples you will have a better grasp.

A quick note: an elif or an else will only exist if there is an if first.

color = "blue"

if color == "blue":
    print("1. This will run because the condition is true")
elif color == "blue":
    print("2. This will not run, because the condition above already evaluated to true")

if color == "blue":
    print("3. This will run because the condition is true")
if color == "blue":
    print("4. This will run because the condition is true and it's not linked to the if above")

if color == "blue":
    print("5. This will run because the condition is true")
elif color == "blue":
    print("6. Even though this is true, it will not run because the condition above already evaluated to true")

if color == "blue":
    print("7. This will run because the condition is true")
else:
    print("8. This would only run if the condition above is false")

if color == "blue":
    print("9. This will run because the condition is true")
elif color == "orange":
    print("10. This will not run because the condition is false")
else:
    print("11. This would only run if BOTH the 2 conditions above are false")
Tyler Sunderland
Tyler Sunderland
4,370 Points

I'm saving this for future reference! Thank you so much.