Else statement

Definition

An else statement in Python is used to execute a block of code if the condition in an if statement evaluates to False. It provides an alternative path of execution when the if condition is not met.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. The else statement must follow an if statement directly, without any intervening statements.
2. Else does not accept any conditions; it only executes when the preceding if condition is False.
3. The else block can be followed by additional elif blocks for further conditional checks.
4. Indentation is crucial in Python; both the if and else blocks must be indented equally to be part of the same conditional structure.
5. An else statement can also follow an elif chain, providing a final fallback option.

Review Questions

• What happens when the condition in an if statement evaluates to False and there is no else statement?
• How should you properly format an else statement following an if-else structure?
• Can you use conditions directly with an else statement?

Related terms

if statement:

Executes a block of code based on whether a specified condition evaluates to True.

elif statement: Stands for 'else if' and allows for multiple conditional checks within the same if-else structure.

Conditional Expression:

Also known as ternary operator, it provides a way to write simple if-else statements in a single line.