Perhaps the most well-known statement type is the if
statement. For example:
>>> if x < 0:
... x = 0
... print 'Negative changed to zero'
... elif x == 0:
... print 'Zero'
... elif x == 1:
... print 'Single'
... else:
... print 'More'
...
There can be zero or more elif parts, and the else
part is optional. The keyword `elif' is short for `else
if', and is useful to avoid excessive indentation. An
if ... elif ... elif
... sequence is a substitute for the switch or
case statements found in other languages.
guido@python.org