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Python

Posted by tyler borg
tyler borg
9,429 Points

'if' vs 'elif': can you use either one?

does it really matter if you use "if" or "elif"? Can't you just use multiple "if"s??

3 Answers

KRIS NIKOLAISEN
KRIS NIKOLAISEN
54,974 Points
KRIS NIKOLAISEN
KRIS NIKOLAISEN
54,974 Points

elif only executes if the if statement is false. Multiple if statements execute independently. Consider the following example:

a = 5

if a == 5:
    print('yes')
    a = 6
elif a == 6:
    print('no')

this prints yes

a = 5    

if a == 5:
    print('yes')
    a = 6
if a == 6:
    print('no')

this prints yes no

tyler borg
tyler borg
9,429 Points

ok, that helps. thanks.

tyler borg
tyler borg
9,429 Points
tyler borg
tyler borg
9,429 Points

so if multiple "if" statements can execute independently if they are both true, does that mean that multiple "elif" statements can do the same if they are referencing the same false "if" statement?

KRIS NIKOLAISEN
KRIS NIKOLAISEN
54,974 Points
KRIS NIKOLAISEN
KRIS NIKOLAISEN
54,974 Points

No. Just the first elif to evaluate to true. Therefore order is important.

tyler borg
tyler borg
9,429 Points

Thank you again.