Skip to content

If and else in code

```
if raining:
    say("Take an umbrella")
```
if in code
Now the robot makes choices in code. A choice starts with if. The if line ends with a colon. The line under it is indented. It runs only when the if is true.
```
if raining:
    say("Take an umbrella")
else:
    say("Wear a hat")
```
else in code
Add else for the other choice. Raining? It says Take an umbrella. Not raining? It says Wear a hat. Only one of the two lines runs.
```
if raining:
    say("Umbrella")
say("Bye")
```
Lines after the choice
say("Bye") is not indented. It is not part of the choice. So it always runs. Raining: Umbrella, then Bye. Not raining: just Bye.
```
if blocked_right():
    move_down()
else:
    move_right()
```
The robot asks questions
The robot can check its board. on_star() asks: am I on a star? blocked_right() asks: is the way right blocked? Robot questions end with two brackets.
repeat 3 times
if the way right is blocked
move down
else
move right

Watch the robot choose
This robot uses the rule above 3 times. A rock blocks its second step right. So it goes down instead. Then the way is clear, so it goes right.

For parents

Goal: Your child learns to read if and else in code and tell which line runs.

Ask: is the if true or not true? Then point to the line that runs.
Point out lines that are not indented. They run either way.
The labs ask your child to predict a choice, fix an else, then build an if and else rule. Open See it as code to read the same program as real code.

Away from the screen: Write "if sunny: play outside, else: read a book" on a card. Check the weather each morning and follow the code together.

Coding · Making Choices