Python: Why does the '0' in my if statement need parentheses to render true?

Question

I am brand new to Python and coding in general. I attempted to look up my question before asking... It's either I didn't look hard enough (I hope not) or didn't know what to search.

So, I am attempting to learn Python from YouTube (please don't yell at me) and I've been emulating the teacher's code and didn't understand one part of the if statement.

def helloWorld(myString):
    print(myString)
    myName = input("What is your name? ")
    myVar = input("Enter a number: ")
    if(myName == "Matthew" and myVar == 0):
        print("Matthew is great")
    elif(myName == "Bob"):
        print("Bob is ok")
    else:
        print("hello world")
helloWorld("Hello function world")
helloWorld("Hello 123 world")

When i run it in the terminal...

Hello function world What is your name? Matthew Enter a number: 0 hello world Hello 123 world What is your name? Matthew Enter a number: 1 hello world

My question is about the if(myName == "Matthew" and myVar == 0): statement. I made sure both parameters were met on the if statement. But, it's outputting hello world. Can someone explain to me why if I put parentheses around the 0 it'll render the if statement true and output Matthew is great? As soon as I take the parentheses off the 0, it'll render the if statement true``false. Hopefully, I was clear and concise about my question. Thank you in advance.

Refer to this question: https://stackoverflow.com/questions/20449427/how-can-i-read-inputs-as-integers . `input()` returns a string, and you'll have to convert it to an integer — TerryA, Oct 08 '17 at 06:11
@TerryA. I gotchya... So, I have to put `int` in front of the `input()` to make it an intenger. — Uchi240, Oct 08 '17 at 06:18

score 0 · Answer 1 · answered Oct 08 '17 at 06:17

0

Like TerryA said, replace

myVar = input("Enter a number: ")

with

myVar = int(input("Enter a number: "))

Alternately, replace

if(myName == "Matthew" and myVar == 0):

with

if(myName == "Matthew" and myVar == '0'):

answered Oct 08 '17 at 06:17

Pete

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4
15

Thanks Pete. I understand now. – Uchi240 Oct 08 '17 at 06:21

Python: Why does the '0' in my if statement need parentheses to render true?

1 Answers1