Match

The match statement can be used to combine several elif statements. This is used to simplify code.

Here's an example:

fruit = "apple"

if fruit == "apple":
    print("A for apple")
elif fruit == "berry":
    print("B for berry")
elif fruit == "cherry":
    print("C for cherry")
else: 
    print("I don't know that fruit")

Output:

A for apple

Match

Again, just like the if/elsif/else statement only one of the blocks is going to execute.

match.py

fruit = "berry"

# a better way
match fruit:
    case "apple":
        print("A for apple")
    case "berry":
        print("B for berry")
    case "cherry":
        print("C for cherry")
    case default:
        print("I don't know that fruit")

Output:

B for berry

Links

• Beginner's Guide

Exercises (5 mins)

1. Complete the following program so that it matches the output.

   # Enter a month number (1-12)
   month = input("Enter a month number (1-12):")
   
   # Use the match statement for the rest of the months
   match month:
       case "1":
           print("January")
   

   Output:

   Enter a month number (1-12): 1
   January
   
   Enter a month number (1-12): 12
   December
   
   Enter a month number (1-12): 14
   I don't know that month