Conditional statements in Python

Conditional statements in Python allow you to execute specific blocks of code based on whether a condition is true or false. They are essential for decision-making in programming. The primary conditional statements in Python are if, elif, and else.

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1. if Statement

The if statement executes a block of code if a specified condition is true.

Syntax:

if condition:
    # block of code

Example:

age = 18
if age >= 18:
    print("You are an adult.")

2. elif Statement

The elif (short for "else if") statement checks another condition if the previous if statement's condition is false.

Syntax:

if condition1:
    # block of code
elif condition2:
    # block of code

Example:

age = 16
if age >= 18:
    print("You are an adult.")
elif age >= 13:
    print("You are a teenager.")

3. else Statement

The else statement executes a block of code if none of the preceding conditions are true.

Syntax:

if condition1:
    # block of code
elif condition2:
    # block of code
else:
    # block of code

Example:

age = 10
if age >= 18:
    print("You are an adult.")
elif age >= 13:
    print("You are a teenager.")
else:
    print("You are a child.")

4. Nested if Statements

You can nest if statements within other if, elif, or else blocks to create more complex conditions.

Syntax:

if condition1:
    if condition2:
        # block of code
    else:
        # block of code
else:
    # block of code

Example:

age = 20
citizen = True

if age >= 18:
    if citizen:
        print("You are eligible to vote.")
    else:
        print("You are not a citizen.")
else:
    print("You are not eligible to vote.")

Summary

Conditional statements are a fundamental part of Python, allowing you to control the flow of your program based on different conditions. By using if, elif, and else, you can write programs that make decisions and execute specific blocks of code based on the given criteria.