For countless learners and future coders, Python is the gateway language into the world of programming. But what happens once you have grasped the basics? What comes next? The answer lies in mastering the core concepts of the language, such as decision making.
Table of contents
What is Python Decision Making?
Python decision making or control flow statements, as it is often known, is a fundamental programming skill where the computer is instructed to perform different computations or actions depending on a certain condition.
Why should you learn Python Decision Making?
Even with the fundamental knowledge of Python, without understanding decision making or control flow statements, you’ll find it challenging to create more complex and intelligent programs. The power of computer algorithms largely lies in their ability to take decisions and perform accordingly.
The essence of decision making entails the computer making choices to determine the execution of code based on if a certain condition is true or false. Sounds exciting, doesn’t it? Imagine teaching your computer to play a simple game such as “rock, paper, scissors” where it has to make a decision based on your choice! Learning Python decision making empowers you with this very ability.
With decision making, you can turn your Python skills from simply knowing the language to effectively communicating with your computer. Not only does this make your coding journey more engaging, it also adds immense value to your skill set.
Stay with us and by the end of this tutorial, you’ll have a good understanding of Python decision making along with some cool examples. Happy coding!
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Python Decision Making: The Basics
Python Decision Making uses conditions that result in either a True or False statement. These conditions are established through comparison operators.
Let’s look at an example:
x = 10
if x == 10:
print("x is 10")Here, ‘x’ is compared to ’10’ using the ‘==’ operator. When this condition is True, then the computer prints “x is 10”.
Continuous decision-making with if-elif-else:
x = 30
if x == 10:
print("x is 10")
elif x == 20:
print("x is 20")
else:
print("x is 30")Here, the program checks several conditions in order. Once it finds a condition that is True, it executes the associated code and ignores the rest.
Nested Decision Making
Consider a situation where an action depends on more than one condition. In such situations, we use nested decision-making.
x = 15
if x > 10:
if x < 20:
print("x is between 10 and 20")
else:
print("x is more than 20")
else:
print("x is less than 10")This code checks whether the number ‘x’ is in the interval 10 to 20. If ‘x’ is outside this range, it will either print “x is more than 20” or “x is less than 10″ depending on ‘x”s value.
Python Ternary Operator
Ternary operators can also be used for decision making, performing an operation based on the condition in a simpler, more concise manner.
x = 10
y = 20
print("x is greater than y") if x > y else print("y is greater than x")In this example, the print statement on the left executes when the condition ‘x > y’ is True. If the condition is False, the statement after ‘else’ gets executed. Simple, isn’t it?
Make sure to understand these chief aspects of Python decision making. Practice regularly and soon, you’ll be writing smarter, more complex code with ease.
Python Decision Making with Logical Operators
In Python, the logical operators ‘and’, ‘or’, and ‘not’ are extensively used for decision making. Let’s see how:
x = 10
y = 20
z = 30
if x < y and y < z:
print("x is the smallest, z is the largest")In this example, the program prints the statement only when both conditions ‘x < y’ and ‘y < z’ are True.
choice = 'y'
if choice == 'y' or choice == 'Y':
print("You chose yes.")The code prints “You chose yes.” if the value of ‘choice’ is either ‘y’ or ‘Y’.
Python Decision Making with Membership Operators
Python offers a unique set of operators, ‘in’ and ‘not in’, known as membership operators that are used to test whether a value is a member of a sequence, like strings, lists, or tuples.
fruits = ['apple', 'banana', 'cherry']
if 'apple' in fruits:
print("Apple is in the list")This code checks if ‘apple’ is in the ‘fruits’ list. If ‘apple’ is in the list, it will print “Apple is in the list”.
Python Decision Making with Identity Operators
Identity operators, ‘is’ and ‘is not’, are used to check if two values (or variables) are located on the same part of the memory. Let’s look at an example:
x = 10
y = 10
if x is y:
print("x and y are the same")In this example, the program prints “x and y are the same” because x and y are identical.
By combining these operators with the concepts of ‘if’, ‘elif’, and ‘else’, you can create efficient, intelligent, and complex programs. Remember, practice makes perfect. So, keep experimenting with different scenarios and happy coding!
Where to go next
By now, you’ve taken the first steps into the world of Python decision making – a key skill that sets you on the path to master Python. But your journey should not stop here!
There’s so much more to explore, learn and master in Python programming. To keep progressing, we at Zenva, strongly recommend continuing to practice your newfound skills with a multitude of projects. This not only helps reinforce your understanding but also enhances your coding muscle memory.
In addition to practicing, the world of Python awaits to serve you a plethora of exciting concepts and skills – think iterations, data structures, functions, file handling, exceptions, and the list continues. Fear not, we’ve got you covered there too.
How to keep learning
We invite you to check out our comprehensive Python Mini-Degree. This extensive collection of courses meticulously crafted by our experienced and certified instructors is the ideal next step in your Python programming journey.
Designed to cater to beginners and seasoned programmers alike, our Python Mini-Degree covers a sweeping range of Python topics. From coding basics, algorithms, object-oriented programming to game development and app development, you get the chance to learn by creating your own games, algorithms, and apps.
The Python Mini-Degree not only assures flexibility, letting you learn at your own pace but also offers valuable projects for you to add to your portfolio. Adding these projects to your resume could prove to be a game-changer, considering Python’s soaring demand in job markets, particularly in data science.
Complete the lessons, ace the quizzes, and earn a completion certificate as you continue your Python learning journey with us.
Even more in store
For those on the lookout for a broader collection, Zenva caters to a vast array of needs and interests. You can browse our catalog of Python courses to find your perfect match.
From beginner to professional, in programming, game development, and AI, we’ve got more than 250 courses to boost your career. With Zenva, transform from a beginner to a pro by learning to code, creating games, and earning certificates.
The world of Python is fascinating and the opportunities endless. All you need to do is continue your journey. So, keep learning and keep coding!
Conclusion
Decision making is the whirlwind affair that enables your code to mimic human-like decisions and make intelligence decisions based on the conditions provided. The concept of decision making, falls right in line with the poetic essence of Python-it’s simple, readable, yet powerful. As you continue mastering Python, the language presents incredible opportunities to develop games, automate tasks, analyze data, and so much more.
Practice your newfound skills, never stop learning and you’ll soon find yourself comfortable enough to take up larger, more complex projects. Today’s Python journey has begun with decision making, where it will lead tomorrow is completely up to you! We at Zenva are ready to assist you down that exciting path with our Python Mini-Degree. With an extensive, tailor-made curriculum alongside detailed project-builds, we promise an immersive learning experience. Join us, and let your Python adventure flourish!
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