"elif‍" Statements

if-else statements are used to manage which parts of your code will get executed based on a single condition. elif statements allow you to test more than one condition.

let's look back at the example from the previouse article:

‍grocery_items = {'bananas': 2.99, 'apples': 1.29, 'papayas': 2.39}
item = 'brussel sprouts'

if (item in grocery_items):
    print('The item exists')
else:
    print('The item does not exist')‍

>‍> The item exists

let's assign item a price value:

‍item, price = 'brussel sprouts', 3.99

‍Now we're going to use the elif statement to see if the price is too expensive. You should end up with something like this:

‍grocery_items = {'bananas': 2.99, 'apples': 1.29, 'papayas': 2.39}
item, price = 'brussel sprouts', 3.99

if (item in grocery_items):
    print('The item exists')
elif (price > 2.99):
    print('The price is too expensive')
else:
    print('The item does not exist')‍

‍>> The price is too expensive

Let's explain what happened above:

1. We've got two values item and price
2. The first if statement checks if the item is grocery_items. In our case it wasn't. So the elif is activated.
3. The elif checks if the price is higher than 2.99. In our case, it was, so the code inside of it executes.
4. The else statement is ignored, since the above condition was executed.

‍This is the first time we've ever used a comparison operator > in a control flow statement if or elif.

Let's look at another example where we use the == operator:

daytime = 'dawn'

if daytime == 'dawn':
    print('still asleep')
elif daytime == 'morning'
    print('time to go to work')
elif daytime == 'noon':
    print('time to take a lunch break')
elif daytime == 'afternoon':
    print('time to go home')
else:
    print('time to sleep')

‍>> still asleep

Since the value of daytime above is dawn, still asleep will be printed.

Now what happens when we change daytime to **noon**?

The console should print: >> time to take a lunch break

‍And if we change **daytime** to **very late at night**?

The else statement should execute, and the console should output:

>> time to sleep

So the purpose of this exercise was not only use the elif statements but also for you to remember to use double equal signs == when making a comparison.‍

Do not confuse the single equal sign = with the double equal sign ==.

• If you would like to make a comparison, use the double equal sign ==
• if you wish to assign a value, use the single equal sign =

‍