Check Multiple Conditions with If Statement - Python

In Python, we often need to make decisions based on more than one condition. For example, you can only vote if your age is at least 18 and you are a registered citizen. Python makes this possible using logical operators like and and or inside if statements.

Before checking multiple conditions, let’s first recall a simple if-else.

age = 18
if age >= 18:
    print("You are an adult")
else:
    print("You are a minor")

You are an adult

Explanation: If the condition age >= 18 is true, "You are an adult" is printed. Otherwise, "You are a minor" is printed.

Multiple Conditions in if Statement

Syntax

if (cond1 AND/OR cond2) AND/OR (cond3 AND/OR cond4):
code1
else:
code2

Python provides two logical operators to combine conditions:

• and: All conditions must be true. If the first condition is false, Python does not check the next one (short-circuiting).
• or: At least one condition must be true. If the first condition is true, Python does not check the next one.

Let’s see examples to understand better.

Examples

Example 1: This program grants access only to kids aged between 8 and 12.

age = 18
if (age >= 8 and age <= 12):
    print("YOU ARE ALLOWED. WELCOME!")
else:
    print("SORRY! YOU ARE NOT ALLOWED. BYE!")

SORRY! YOU ARE NOT ALLOWED. BYE!

Explanation: Condition (age >= 8 and age <= 12) checks if age is between 8 and 12. Since age = 18, condition is false, so the else part runs.

Example 2: This program checks whether a user agrees to the terms or not.

var = 'N'
if (var == 'Y' or var == 'y'):
    print("YOU SAID YES")
elif (var == 'N' or var == 'n'):
    print("YOU SAID NO")
else:
    print("INVALID INPUT")

YOU SAID NO

Explanation:

• If input is "Y" or "y", it prints "YES".
• If input is "N" or "n", it prints "NO".
• Otherwise, it shows "INVALID INPUT".

Example 3: This program checks which of the three numbers is the largest. If all numbers are equal, it prints that too.

a = 7
b = 9
c = 3
if a > b and a > c:
    print(a, "is the largest")
elif b > a and b > c:
    print(b, "is the largest")
elif c > a and c > b:
    print(c, "is the largest")
else:
    print("All numbers are equal or there is a tie")

9 is the largest

Explanation:

• First if checks if a is greater than both b and c. If not, elif checks if b is greater than both others.
• If not, next elif checks if c is greater than both others.
• If none of the above are true, it means either all numbers are equal or two numbers are tied, so the else block runs.

Example 4: This program checks if all three values are equal to 1.

a = 1
b = 1
c = 1
if (a == 1 and b == 1 and c == 1):
    print("working")
else:
    print("stopped")

working

Explanation: The condition uses and. Since all three variables are equal to 1, it prints "working".