An if statement is probably the most essential tool in the programming world, so it's only logical to start with exactly that for my beginners guide to programming.
What's its purpose?
If statements are used to look if a certain condition is true, to then execute the code underneath it. An example for an if Statement (in Python) could look like this:
if(motherVisitsYou == true): clean(dishes);In this example, the programm asks if the variable motherVisitsYou is true and if that's the case executes the command clean(dishes).
This would mean, that if you'll get visited by your mom you'll have to wash the dishes, fi not you won't.
Elif:
If you would also want to add something if your dad visits you could use elif. It's the short form of else if and is written if you want the programm to do something if the first question isn't true(mother visits) but there are other possiblities too(father visits). An example For that would look like this:
if(motherVisitsYou == true):
clean(dishes); elif(fatherVisitsYou == true): get(snacks);Else: Else is written after an if or elif statements and means, that if all conditions above weren't true, do whatever comes now.
if(motherVisitsYou == true):
clean(dishes); elif(fatherVisitsYou == true): get(snacks);else(): relax;This would mean that if neither your mom nor your dad visit you in the near future you can just relax and do nothing.
Short form:
if means: if a condition is true do...
elif means: if a condition isn't true but another one is do...
else mean: if all coditions above are wrong do...
