The Lowdown: Why You Need Control Flow
Today, we’re diving into Python’s control flow—basically, giving your code the power to make decisions (if-else
) and handle repetition (loops) without you doing all the typing.
If-Else: Making Choices
With if
, elif
, and else
, Python can check conditions and act based on the results. Here’s a quick rundown:
age = 20
if age >= 18:
print("Adult")
elif age >= 13:
print("Teenager")
else:
print("Child")
This lets Python classify age groups without extra code clutter. It’s efficient and clear.
Loops: Because Typing the Same Thing Over is Painful
Rather than manually repeating actions, you can loop. Python’s for
and while
loops keep things clean and concise:
-
for
loop: Use for lists, strings, or other sequences.
for letter in "Python":
print(letter)
Each letter in "Python" gets printed in its own turn.
-
while
loop: Continues until a condition is no longer true.
count = 0
while count < 5:
print(count)
count += 1
Runs until count
reaches 5.
Loop Superpowers: break
and continue
-
break
: Exit a loop early. -
continue
: Skip to the next iteration, useful for conditions.
Practical Example: Checking Access Privileges
Let’s say you need to confirm age and admin status for access. Here’s how:
age = 30
is_admin = True
if 18 <= age <= 60 and is_admin:
print("Access Granted")
else:
print("Access Denied")
Python handles the conditions in one neat check, minimizing code repetition.
Alternative Syntax: The One-Liner
Want a quick check without the full if-else structure? Use Python’s one-liner:
print("Adult") if age >= 18 else print("Child")
Final Thoughts: Control Your Code, Don’t Let It Control You
With if-else
statements and loops in your toolkit, you’re all set to control your program’s flow like a pro. Just remember—endless loops are no fun.
Happy coding! 🥂