else if Statements

Else If Statements

Understanding Else If Statements

  • Else if statements, usually shortened to elif, are used in decision making in programming.
  • They introduce a new Boolean condition that is checked only if the previous conditions were not met, i.e., they resulted in False.

Usage of Else If Statements

  • An elif statement follows an if or another elif statement.
  • It introduces a new Boolean condition to be tested in case the preceding conditions are not satisfied.

Structure of Else If Statements

  • The elif statement behaves just like the if statement.
  • If the Boolean condition within the brackets of elif evaluates to True, the code block immediately following it gets executed.
  • However, if the condition evaluates to False, the control moves to the next elif or else statement, if any.

Working of Else If Statements

  • The program starts checking conditions from the if statement.
  • If the condition in if is met, the corresponding block of code is executed and the program skips the rest of the elif and else statements.
  • If the initial if condition is not met, the program moves on to the following elif statement (if present).
  • If the Boolean condition in the elif statement is True, its corresponding block of code is executed, bypassing the rest of the elif and else statements.
  • If the elif condition is not met, the control moves to the next elif or else statement.
  • This continues until a condition is met, or all conditions prove False. If all conditions are False and an else statement is present, the code block within else gets executed.

Importance of Else If Statements

  • Elif statements provide flexibility in programming by allowing multiple specific conditions to be checked in a sequence.
  • They enable the program to execute different code blocks for different conditions, enhancing program effectiveness and efficiency.

Use of Else If Statements with Else

  • An else clause can be used at the end of a sequence of if and elif statements.
  • The block of code within the else statement is a default action that gets executed if all the previous conditions (in if and elif) evaluate to False.
  • The else clause is optional in an if-elif-else structure. The structure can work just with if and elif too.