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starting to code

Python uses indents to connect paths

The code inside the if and else statements is indented. This isn’t just
to make the code pretty. In Python, indents matter. Let’s consider a
different piece of example code: something that will decide if you can
drive downtown. Python uses indents to connect a sequence of commands
together to form paths.

The INDENTs tell Python that
the commands are in the same path
This is the if fuel > 3:
TRUE path. print("It's OK")

print("You can drive downtown.")
else:
This is the print("Sorry")
FALSE path. print("You don't have enough fuel")
print("What's next?")
This command is not on the
FALSE path because it is not
indented. So it will always run.

So how do you connect branches together? You simply indent the
second branch in by one more level.
Indents matter
The first if branch in Python.

if fuel > 3: Be careful how
you indent code in
print("It's OK")
print("You can drive downtown.") Python; if you don’t
else: indent your code correctly, your
This second if branch code might do something wildly
if money > 10:
is connected to the different from what you expect.
print("You should buy some gas.")
“false" path of the else:
first if branch. print("You better stay at home.")
print("What's next?")
Notice the extra
indentation.

You should now have enough information to go fix the code, but
before we do that, let’s take a look at how IDLE helps you indent
code.

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