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A data type specifies the type of value a variable can contain. Python supports various data
types. Integers (int) are whole numbers, such as a = 10. Floating-point numbers (float) include
decimals, such as b = 3.5. Strings (string) are sequences of characters enclosed in quotes, such
as c = "Hello".
Comments in Python can be used to explain parts of the code. It can also be used to hide the code
as well. Comments enable us to understand the way a program works. In Python, any statement
starting with the # symbol is known as a comment. Python does not execute comments.
In Python, operators can be defined as special symbols which perform arithmetic and logical
computation. The values which the operators use to get the output are called operands. Python
includes arithmetic operators such as +, -, *, /, %, **, and //, assignment operators like =, +=,
-=, *=, /=, %=, //= and **=, relational operators including ==, !=, >, <, >= and <=, and logical
operators such as and, or, and not. Precedence of operators determines the order in which the
operators are executed.
There are situations in life when we need to decide based on a situation. For example, if it rains,
I will stay at home or else I shall visit the market. Similar situations arise in programming as
well, where we need to make some decisions and based on these decisions, execute a set of
commands. We need to determine which action is to be taken and which statement is to be
executed, if the outcome is true or false. In this chapter, we will learn about decision making
statements of Python.
CONDITIONAL STATEMENTS
Decision making in Python is done by using conditional statements which decide the flow of
program execution. The following conditional statements are available in Python:
if statement
if...else statement
Nested if statement
if…elif…else ladder Test Expression False
The if Statement
The if statement is the simplest conditional statement. Here, True
a statement or a collection of statements within the if block
is executed only if a certain condition or expression evaluates Body of if
to True. If the condition evaluates to False, then the control
of execution is passed to the next statement after the if block.
The syntax of the if statement is given below:
Statement just below if
Syntax:
if (Test Expression):
Indented statement block
# if block ends here
Conditional and Looping Statements in Python 125

