Handling multiple conditions with elif
The elif statement (short for else if) allows checking multiple conditions in sequence. When you have more than two possible outcomes based on different conditions, elif provides a cleaner alternative to nested if statements. Python evaluates if and elif conditions in order from top to bottom and executes the block for the first condition that is True. If none of the conditions are True, the else block (if present) executes. Only one block executes even if multiple conditions could be True, because evaluation stops at the first True condition. Elif statements make code more readable and efficient compared to multiple separate if statements or deeply nested conditionals. They are essential for handling complex decision trees with multiple exclusive possibilities, such as grading systems, menu selections, state machines, or any situation where different conditions lead to different outcomes in a mutually exclusive manner.