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Python Python Basics (Retired) Shopping List Shopping List Project

Ahmed Al-Alawi
seal-mask
.a{fill-rule:evenodd;}techdegree
Ahmed Al-Alawi
Front End Web Development Techdegree Student 17,165 Points
Posted by Ahmed Al-Alawi
.a{fill-rule:evenodd;}techdegree
Ahmed Al-Alawi
Front End Web Development Techdegree Student 17,165 Points

Where is the "else" keyword in the if else statement in the video? how his code is still working with no else 'keyword'

but as I omit the else in my code down below, the "Added....." is not printed and also the list items after DONE are not being printed

The code without the "else" keyword

shopping_list = list()

print("What should we pick up at the store?")
print("Enter 'DONE' to stop adding items.")

while True:
  new_item = input("> ")

  if new_item == 'DONE':
    break

    shopping_list.append(new_item)
    print("Added! List has {} items.".format(len(shopping_list)))
    continue

print("Here's your list:")
for item in shopping_list:
    print(item)

the result in the console

Last login: Sat Sep 5 16:28:32 UTC 2015 on pts/0
treehouse:~/workspace$ python shopping_list.py
What should we pick up at the store?
Enter 'DONE' to stop adding items.

Apple
Orange
Banan
DONE
Here's your list:
treehouse:~/workspace$

[edit formatting --cf]

Alexander Davison
Alexander Davison
65,469 Points

You don't need to use the 'else' keyword always, you could just do 'if'. It's optional.

2 Answers

Chris Freeman
MOD
Chris Freeman
Treehouse Moderator 68,441 Points
Chris Freeman
Chris Freeman
Treehouse Moderator 68,441 Points

After reformatting your post, the else is required in your code due to the indentation.

  if new_item == 'DONE':  #<-- Start code block if 'DONE'
    break #<-- immediately break from code block. Start next while look iteration
    # The following code is never executed since it's after the `break` and
    # it's inside the `if` code block
    shopping_list.append(new_item)
    print("Added! List has {} items.".format(len(shopping_list)))
    continue

Instead, unindent the three lines or add an else

  if new_item == 'DONE':  #<-- Start code block if 'DONE'
    break
  # unindented next three lines to run outside of `if` code block
  shopping_list.append(new_item)
  print("Added! List has {} items.".format(len(shopping_list)))
  continue

  if new_item == 'DONE':  #<-- Start code block if 'DONE'
    break
  else    #<-- Added else to execute the remaining statements
    shopping_list.append(new_item)
    print("Added! List has {} items.".format(len(shopping_list)))
    continue

Finally, the continue statement is not needed if it's the last statement. A "continue" is implied.

C H
C H
6,587 Points
C H
C H
6,587 Points

You can have 'if' statements on their own without any else statement following. It would just mean that if the 'if' condition is not met, it skips it and keeps going. I guess the entire rest of the code could be put in an else statement, but it is unnecessary.