Why is python is running the if statement when it should be running elif

Question

I'm still learning the basics of python and can't seem to figure out why my simple dice rolling code isn't working properly.

import random

def main():
  num = int(input("How many sides of the die?\n"))
  num_of_rolls = int(input("How many rolls?\n"))
  roll_y_n = input("Are you ready to roll? Y/N\n")
  var = 1

  def dice_roll(num):
    return random.randrange(1,num)

  if roll_y_n.lower() in "yes" or "y":
    while var <= num_of_rolls:
        print("You rolled a " + str(dice_roll(num)) + ".")
        var = var + 1

  else:
    print("Okay, Byeee!")
    exit()

  retry = input("Do you want to go again? Y/N\n")
  if retry.lower() == "yes" or "y":
    main()
  elif retry in "no" or 'n':
    print("Okay, Byeee!")
    exit()
main()

it runs it just fine, but when ever I type in "n" to get it to stop it still runs as if I typed in "y". Sorry if this is a dumb question, I just can't figure it out.

You probably don't want recursion here. Consider *while True:* and then *break* when you're done — DarkKnight, Feb 03 '22 at 12:27
`roll_y_n.lower() in "yes" or "y"` does something very different than you think. Firstly it is equivalent to `(roll_y_n.lower() in "yes") or "y"` which is `roll_y_n.lower() in "yes" or True` which is `True`. — luk2302, Feb 03 '22 at 12:27

score 0 · Accepted Answer · answered Feb 03 '22 at 12:25

There is lot of syntax error in your code: Use this:

if roll_y_n.lower() in ["yes", "y"]:
    while var <= num_of_rolls:
        print("You rolled a " + str(dice_roll(num)) + ".")
        var = var + 1
if retry.lower() in ["yes","y"]:
    main()
elif retry in ["no", 'n']:
    print("Okay, Byeee!")
    exit()

Why is python is running the if statement when it should be running elif

1 Answers1