This Python Match lesson is for a beginner. Read the short notes, run each example, then change one name or number and run it again.
match compares one value against patterns. It needs Python 3.10 or newer. case _ is the fallback.
Use it when one command name chooses among several actions. An if chain is still fine for simple ranges.
Example 1: Start here
The try-it runner on this page supports match.
command = "start" # text
match command: # compare this value with each case
case "start": # runs when the value matches this pattern
print("Batch opened")
case "stop": # runs when the value matches this pattern
print("Batch closed")
case _: # the fallback when nothing above matched
print("Unknown command")
Example 2: Match a word
match compares one value with each case. The underscore is the fallback.
day = "Mon" # text
match day: # compare this value with each case
case "Mon": # runs when the value matches this pattern
print("Start")
case "Fri": # runs when the value matches this pattern
print("Review")
case _: # the fallback when nothing above matched
print("Class")
Example 3: Match a number
The case value is compared with seats.
seats = 0 # a whole number
match seats: # compare this value with each case
case 0: # runs when the value matches this pattern
print("Empty")
case _: # the fallback when nothing above matched
print("Open")
Example 4: Capture the rest
A bare name in a case stores the value so you can print it.
command = "help" # text
match command: # compare this value with each case
case "run": # runs when the value matches this pattern
print("Running")
case other: # runs when the value matches this pattern
print("Unknown", other) # a comma prints each value, with a space between
The try-it runner on this page supports match.
