elif / else

Updated March 15, 2026 · Keywords

keyword control-flow conditional if-statement

The elif and else keywords extend the basic if statement to handle multiple conditions in a single block. They let you create branching logic that responds differently based on varying conditions.

Syntax

if condition1:
    # runs if condition1 is truthy
    code_block
elif condition2:
    # runs if condition1 is falsy but condition2 is truthy
    code_block
elif condition3:
    # runs if neither condition1 nor condition2 is truthy but condition3 is truthy
    code_block
else:
    # runs if all above conditions are falsy
    code_block

How It Works

Python evaluates each condition in order:

If the first if condition is truthy, execute its block and skip all elif and else
If falsy, check each elif in order
Execute the first truthy elif block and skip the rest
If no conditions are truthy, execute the else block (if present)

temperature = 75

if temperature > 85:
    print("It is hot!")
elif temperature > 65:
    print("It is pleasant")
elif temperature > 32:
    print("It is chilly")
else:
    print("It is cold!")
# Output: It is pleasant

else Without elif

The else keyword can stand alone after an if, providing a fallback when the condition is falsy:

is_raining = True

if is_raining:
    print("Bring an umbrella")
else:
    print("Enjoy the weather!")
# Output: Bring an umbrella

Multiple elif

You can chain as many elif statements as needed:

score = 85

if score >= 90:
    grade = "A"
elif score >= 80:
    grade = "B"
elif score >= 70:
    grade = "C"
elif score >= 60:
    grade = "D"
else:
    grade = "F"

print(f"Grade: {grade}")
# Output: Grade: B

Common Use Cases

Range checking

age = 45

if age < 13:
    category = "child"
elif age < 20:
    category = "teenager"
elif age < 65:
    category = "adult"
else:
    category = "senior"

print(category)
# Output: adult

Input validation

def classify_input(value):
    if value is None:
        return "No value provided"
    elif isinstance(value, str):
        return "Text input"
    elif isinstance(value, (int, float)):
        return "Numeric input"
    else:
        return f"Unknown type: {type(value).__name__}"

print(classify_input("hello"))
# Output: Text input

print(classify_input(42))
# Output: Numeric input

State machines

def process_order(status):
    if status == "pending":
        return "Order is being reviewed"
    elif status == "confirmed":
        return "Order has been confirmed"
    elif status == "shipped":
        return "Order is on its way"
    elif status == "delivered":
        return "Order complete"
    else:
        return "Unknown status"

print(process_order("shipped"))
# Output: Order is on its way

Error handling flow

def handle_response(code):
    if code == 200:
        return "Success"
    elif code == 401:
        return "Unauthorized"
    elif code == 404:
        return "Not found"
    elif code == 500:
        return "Server error"
    else:
        return f"Unexpected code: {code}"

else with try/except

The else clause in a try/except block runs only if no exception was raised:

def divide(a, b):
    try:
        result = a / b
    except ZeroDivisionError:
        return "Cannot divide by zero"
    else:
        return f"Result: {result}"

print(divide(10, 2))
# Output: Result: 5.0

print(divide(10, 0))
# Output: Cannot divide by zero

Performance Note

Since Python evaluates conditions sequentially, put the most likely conditions first for faster execution in typical cases:

# Good: most common case first
if user.is_active:
    grant_access()
elif user.is_pending:
    show_pending_message()
elif user.is_banned:
    show_banned_message()

Avoid Redundant else

If all previous conditions cover every possible case, else is unnecessary:

# Redundant else - x is always either positive, negative, or zero
if x > 0:
    print("positive")
elif x < 0:
    print("negative")
else:  # this is optional but harmless
    print("zero")

# More concise without else
if x > 0:
    print("positive")
elif x < 0:
    print("negative")
else:
    print("zero")