Statements

Statements

A statement is one complete instruction for Python. Programs are made of statements run in order, from top to bottom.

x = 5
print(x)
x = x + 1
print(x)

This runs the four statements one after another.

Statements and expressions

• A statement does something (assigns, prints, loops).
• An expression produces a value (like 2 + 2 or "hi").
• An expression can sit inside a statement: print(2 + 2) prints the value of the expression.

Simple statements

• x = 10 is an assignment statement.
• print(x) is a call to the built-in print function.
• pass is a do-nothing statement used as a placeholder.
• return value sends a value back out of a function.
• break and continue change loop behavior.

Compound statements

A compound statement has a header and an indented block, like if, while, for, and def.

if x > 0:
    print("Positive")

The header line ends with a colon, and the block follows.

Blank lines

Python ignores blank lines. Use them to make your code easier to read.

TL;DR

• A statement is one instruction.
• An expression produces a value.
• Simple statements: assignment, print, pass, return.
• Compound statements: if, while, for, def, with a colon plus block.