Python: Where does if-endif-statement end?

Question

I have the following code:

for i in range(0,numClass):
    if breaks[i] == 0:
        classStart = 0
    else:
        classStart = dataList.index(breaks[i])
        classStart += 1
classEnd = dataList.index(breaks[i+1])

classList = dataList[classStart:classEnd+1]

classMean = sum(classList)/len(classList)
print classMean
preSDCM = 0.0
for j in range(0,len(classList)):
    sqDev2 = (classList[j] - classMean)**2
    preSDCM += sqDev2

SDCM += preSDCM
return (SDAM - SDCM)/SDAM

I would like to convert this code to VB.NET.

But I am not sure where the if-elseif-statement ends. Does it end after "classStart += 1"?

I feel it a bit difficult to see where the for-next-loops end as well in Python.

The code is taken from http://danieljlewis.org/files/2010/06/Jenks.pdf

Thank you.

score 19 · Accepted Answer · answered Oct 17 '13 at 14:58

19

Yes. Python uses indentation to mark blocks. Both the if and the for end there.

answered Oct 17 '13 at 14:58

Daniel Roseman

588,541
66
880
895

Cool, thank you. Can you also tell me what the double asterisk (**) means in this line? sqDev2 = (classList[j]-classMean)**2 – tmighty Oct 17 '13 at 15:01
means "power of", equivalent to ^ in many languages. **2 (squared), **3 (cubic) – Jblasco Oct 17 '13 at 15:03
1

It means "power", or what in some languages is `^` (Python uses that for bitwise xor). – Daniel Roseman Oct 17 '13 at 15:04

score 10 · Answer 2 · answered Oct 17 '13 at 15:32

In Python, where your indented block ends, that is exactly where your block will end. So, for example, consider a bit simpler code:

myName = 'Jhon'
if myName == 'Jhon':
   print(myName * 5)
else:
   print('Hello')

Now, when you run this code (make sure to run it from a separate module, not from the interactive prompt), it will print 'Jhon' five times (note that Python will treat the objects exactly as they are specified, it won't even bother to try to convert the variable myName's value to a number for multiplication) and that's it. This is because the code block inside of the if block is only executed. Note that if the else keyword was put anywhere but just below the if statement or if you had mixed the use of tabs and spaces, Python would raise an error.

Now, in your code,

for i in range(0,numClass):
    if breaks[i] == 0:
       classStart = 0
    else:
       classStart = dataList.index(breaks[i])
       classStart += 1

See, where the indent of for's block of code starts? One tab, so, everything indented one tab after the for statement, will be inside of the for block. Now, obviously, the if statement is inside of the for statement, so it's inside the for statement. Now, let's move to next line, classStart = 0 -- this is indented two tabs from the for statement and one tab from the if statement; so it's inside the if statement and inside the for block. Next line, you have an else keyword indented just one tab from the for statement but not two tabs, so it's inside the for statement, and not inside the if statement.

Consider putting curly-braces like these if you have coded in another language(s) before:

for i in range(0,numClass)
{
    if breaks[i] == 0
        {
        classStart = 0
        }
    else
        {
        classStart = dataList.index(breaks[i])
        classStart += 1
        }
}

The simple differences are that you are not required to put parenthesis for your expressions, unless, you want to force operator precedence rule and you don't need those curly braces, instead, just indent them equally.

score 0 · Answer 3 · edited Apr 12 '20 at 02:00

0

for i in range(0,numClass):
    if breaks[i] == 0:
       classStart = 0
    else:
       classStart = dataList.index(breaks[i])
       classStart += 1
#   end if

edited Apr 12 '20 at 02:00

Raphaele Adjerad

1,117
6
12

answered Apr 11 '20 at 18:59

user13289173

19

6

Please add explanation to your answer – mastisa Apr 12 '20 at 03:13

score 0 · Answer 4 · answered Sep 26 '21 at 09:10

0

That is right. In Python, the indentation delimitates your condition block, differently from e.g., Matlab, where you would have to insert an "end" to mark the block's end. I like both ways though!

answered Sep 26 '21 at 09:10

MarcosMoro

1
1

Python: Where does if-endif-statement end?

4 Answers4