Python 'If not' syntax

Question

I’m a bit confused about how/why so many python developers use if not in their conditional statements.

for example, lets say we had a function,

def foo(bar = None):
    if not bar:
        bar = 2

But why go about this way? I mean, wouldn’t doing if bar != None or if bar is not Nonebe more explicit? What does if not try to say?

Asked By: user1971598

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Answer 1

Yes, if bar is not None is more explicit, and thus better, assuming it is indeed what you want. That’s not always the case, there are subtle differences: if not bar: will execute if bar is any kind of zero or empty container, or False.
Many people do use not bar where they really do mean bar is not None.

Answered By: user395760

Python 'If not' syntax

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