The basic form of an if statement provides a condition and a suite of statements that are executed when the condition is true. It looks like this:

The suite is an indented block of statements. Any statement is allowed in the block, including indented if statements. You can use either tabs or spaces for indentation. The usual style is four spaces.

This is our first compound statement. See Python Syntax Rules for some additional guidance on syntax for compound statements.

The if statement evaluates the condition expression first. When the result is True, the suite of statements is executed. Otherwise the suite is skipped.

For example, if two dice show a total of 7 or 11, the throw is a winner.

d1 and d2 are two dice

if d1+d2 == 7 or d1+d2 == 11:
    print "winner", d1+d2

Here we have a typically complex expression. The or operator evaluates the left side first. Python evaluates and applies the high-precendence arithmetic operator before the lower-precendence comparison operator. If the left side is true (d1+d2 is 7), the or expression is true, and the suite is executed. If the left side is false, then the right side is evaluated. If it is true (d1+d2 is 11), the or expression is true, and the suite is executed. Otherwise, the suite is skipped.

a=0
if␣a=0:
␣␣␣␣print␣"a␣is␣zero"
else:
␣␣␣␣print␣"a␣is␣not␣zero"

if␣a%2=0:
⊢print␣"a␣is␣even"
else:
⊢print␣"a␣is␣odd"

Often there are several conditions that need to be handled. This is done by adding elif clauses. This is short for “else-if”. We can add an unlimited number of elif clauses. The elif clause has almost the same syntax as the if clause.

Here is a somewhat more complete rule for the come out roll in a game of craps:

result= None
if d1+d2 == 7 or d1+d2 == 11:
    result= "winner"
elif d1+d2 == 2 or d1+d2 == 3 or d1+d2 == 12:
    result= "loser"
print result

First, we checked the condition for winning; if the first condition is true, the first suite is executed and the entire if statement is complete. If the first condition is false, then the second condition is tested. If that condition is true, the second suite is executed, and the entire if statement is complete. If neither condition is true, the if statement has no effect.

Python also gives us the capability to put a “catch-all” suite at the end for all other conditions. This is done by adding an else clause. The else clause has the following syntax.

Here's the complete come-out roll rule, assuming two values d1 and d2.

point= None
if d1+d2 == 7 or d1+d2 == 11:
    print "winner"
elif d1+d2 == 2 or d1+d2 == 3 or d1+d2 == 12:
    print "loser"
else:
    point= d1+d2
    print  "point is", point

Here, we use the else: suite to handle all of the other possible rolls. There are six different values (4, 5, 6, 8, 9, or 10), a tedious typing exercise if done using or. We summarize this with the else: clause.

While handy in one respect, this else: clause is also dangerous. By not explicitly stating the condition, it is possible to overlook simple logic errors.

Consider the following complete if statement that checks for a winner on a field bet. A field bet wins on 2, 3, 4, 9, 10, 11 or 12. The payout odds are different on 2 and 12.

outcome= 0
if d1+d2 == 2 or d1+d2 == 12:
    outcome= 2
    print "field pays 2:1"
elif d1+d2==4 or d1+d2==9 or d1+d2==10 or d1+d2==11:
    outcome= 1
    print "field pays even money"
else:
    outcome= -1
    print "field loses"

Here we test for 2 and 12 in the first clause; we test for 4, 9, 10 and 11 in the second. It's not obvious that a roll of 3 is missing from the even money pay out. This fragment incorrectly treats 3, 5, 6, 7 and 8 alike in the else:. While the else: clause is used commonly as a catch-all, a more proper use for else: is to raise an exception because a condition was not matched by any of the if or elif clauses.