if / elif / else

if runs a block only when a condition is True. The block is the indented lines under the colon.

if temp > 30:
    print("Hot!")
elif temp > 15:
    print("Nice")
else:
    print("Cold")

Python checks from the top and runs only the first branch that matches.

Step through with temp = 20: the highlight tests temp > 30 (False), moves to the elif (True), runs print("Nice"), and never visits the else block.

See it run

temp = 12
if temp > 25:
    label = "hot"
elif temp > 10:
    label = "mild"
else:
    label = "cold"
print(label)

Python tests the conditions top to bottom and runs only the first branch that is True. Watch the highlighted line jump.

Practice if / elif / else

Exercise 1

Use score in the editor below. Set grade with if/elif/else: 90+ is "A", 80+ is "B", 70+ is "C", and anything else is "F".

Exercise 2

Set fee for a parcel using if/elif/else: weight up to 1 kg costs 3, up to 5 kg costs 7, otherwise 12. Start with weight = 5.

Exercise 3

A tank alarm uses four bands: below 10 is "critical", 10 through below 25 is "low", 25 through 90 is "normal", above 90 is "overflow". Set status with if/elif/else for level = 25.

Free lesson: use the editor to practice it.

Practice

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Visualizer Watch your code run line by line

Run your code, then choose Play to follow its execution.

Memory · names → values

Variables appear here as Python creates them.

Output & plots