Control Structures in Python

Before understanding control structures in Python, we need to understand what is an algorithm. The core task of a programmer is to solve problems. To solve a problem using a computer, we must perform a series of steps in a specific order. This sequence of steps and their required order is called an algorithm.

In Python, a program is executed sequentially, and the structures that modify this execution flow are called control structures. These are sets of instructions that determine the order in which operations are executed. In modern programming, there are only three types of control structures:

1. Sequencing
2. Branching
3. Repetition

Sequence of Instructions

Program instructions are executed one after another in the exact order they are written in the script.

At first glance, this may seem obvious. However, many programming errors occur because of incorrectly ordered instructions. As you progress in programming, you will realize the importance of writing instructions in the correct sequence.

For example, consider the following sequence:

a, b = 3, 7
a = b
b = a
print(a, b)

You’ll get an unexpected result if you swap the second and third lines.

Execution Flow in Python

Python processes instructions in normal mode—from start to finish—unless it encounters branching statements like if or loops. These control structures allow the program to follow different paths depending on conditions.

In the next article, we will learn about if statement in python.