How the Python or Operator Works
00:00
In your preceding lessons, we got a bit of a background about Boolean logic and some of the terms that apply to Boolean operators in Python. In this next set of lessons, we’ll actually take a look at how Python uses the or
operator.
00:16 Generally, the OR of two Boolean expressions is true if at least one of the two expressions is true.
00:25 This is sometimes referred to as the inclusive OR. It leads to a little bit of confusion because in English the word “or” can have two meanings. Sometimes when we say “or” we mean one or the other but not both.
00:39
That’s called the exclusive OR. But in Boolean algebra, Boolean logic, and the way Python understands the word or
, we use the inclusive OR, which means all we need is at least one of the two expressions to be True
. If they’re both True
, the or
of those two expressions is also True
.
01:01 We’ll take a look at some specific examples in Python code starting in your next lesson.
Become a Member to join the conversation.