Short Hand If
If you have only one statement to execute, you can put it on the same line as the if statement.
ifNote
You still need the colon : after the condition.
Short Hand If ... Else
If you have one statement for if and one for else , you can put them on the same line using a conditional expression:
ifThis is called a conditional expression (sometimes known as a "ternary operator").
Assign a Value With If ... Else
You can also use a one-line if / else to choose a value and assign it to a variable:
Example
a = 10
b = 20
bigger = a if a > b else b
print("Bigger is", bigger)The syntax follows this pattern
variable = value_if_true if condition else value_if_falseMultiple Conditions on One Line
You can chain conditional expressions, but keep it short so it stays readable:
Example
a = 330
b = 330
print("A") if a > b else print("=") if a == b else print("B")When to Use Shorthand If
Shorthand if statements and ternary operators should be used when:
- The condition and actions are simple
- It improves code readability
- You want to make a quick assignment based on a condition
Important: While shorthand if statements can make code more concise, avoid overusing them for complex conditions. For readability, use regular if-else statements when dealing with multiple lines of code or complex logic.