Logical Operators in Python

Python Logical Operators

Python logical operators are essential for combining conditional statements. They allow you to evaluate multiple conditions at once, enabling more complex decision-making in your programs. In this lesson, we will cover three primary logical operators: and, or, and not. Each operator serves a different purpose and helps control the flow of your code based on multiple conditions.

1. Logical AND

The logical AND operator returns True only if both statements (or conditions) being evaluated are true. If either of the conditions is false, the entire expression evaluates to false.

Syntax:

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x < 5 and x < 10

Example:

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x = 3
result = (x < 5) and (x < 10)  # result will be True

Practical Use:

Use the AND operator when you need to ensure that multiple conditions are satisfied. For instance, you might want to check if a number is within a certain range.

2. Logical OR

The logical OR operator returns True if at least one of the conditions being evaluated is true. It only returns False if both conditions are false.

Syntax:

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x < 5 or x < 4

Example:

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x = 3
result = (x < 5) or (x < 4)  # result will be True

Practical Use:

Use the OR operator when you want to check if at least one condition is true. This is helpful in scenarios where multiple valid options exist.

3. Logical NOT

The logical NOT operator reverses the result of the condition. If the condition is true, NOT makes it false; if the condition is false, NOT makes it true.

Syntax:

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not (x < 5 and x < 10)

Example:

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x = 3
result = not (x < 5 and x < 10)  # result will be False

Practical Use:

Use the NOT operator when you need to negate a condition. It is useful for situations where you want to perform an action if a certain condition is not met.