Every programming language has to have some method for indicating grouping of operations. Here is how you execute an if-then-else structure in Java:
if (s == 1){
s = s + 1;
a = a - 10;
} else {
s = s + 10;
a = a + 10;
}
The braces specify what statements are executed in the if case. It is suppose good method to indent your code to agree with the brace structure, but it is not needed. In addition, the semi colons are used to show the end of a instruction, independent of the position of the line divided in the file. So, the following code segment has the same meaning as the previous one, although it is much typical to read and understand.
if (s == 1){
s = s
+ 1; a = a - 10;
} else {
a = a + 10;
}
In Python, on the other hand, there are no braces for grouping or semicolons for ending. Indentation shows grouping and line breaks indicate statement ending. So, in Python, we would give the previous example as
if s == 1:
s = s + 1
a = a - 10
else:
s = s + 10
a = a + 10
There is no way to put more than one statement on a one line.3 If you have a instruction that is too long for a line, you can break it with a backslash:
aReallyLongVariableNameThatMakesMyLinesLong = \
aReallyLongVariableNameThatMakesMyLinesLong + 1
It is easy for Java programmers to get confused about colons and semi colons in Python. Here is the method: (1) Python does not use semi-colons; (2) Colons are used to start an indented part, so they seems on the ?rst line of a method definition, when starting for loop or while loop, and after the situation in an if, elif, or else.
Is one method better than the other? No. It is purely a function of taste. The Python function is pretty unusual. But if you are using Python, you have to remember that indentation and line breaks are significant.