Python OR Keyword (original) (raw)

Last Updated : 23 Jul, 2025

**Python OR is a logical operator keyword. The OR operator returns True if at least one of the operands becomes to be True.

**Note:

• In Python ****"or"** operator does not return True or False.
• The ****"or"** operator in Python returns the first operand if it is True else the second operand.

Let’s start with a simple example to understand how "or" works in a condition.

Python `

age = 16 p = False

if age >= 18 or p: print("Access granted") else: print("Access denied")

`

**Explanation: The if condition is not being evaluated as True because neither of the conditions (age >= 18 or p) are True.

Python OR Keyword Truth Table

Let's explore some of the use cases of ****"or"** keyword with examples.

**Use of "or" in Conditional Statements

In the if statement python uses the "**or" operator to connect multiple conditions in one expression.

Python `

a = 55 b = 33

if b > a: print("b is greater than a") elif a == b: print("a and b are equal") else: print("a is greater than b")

`

Output

a is greater than b

**Use of "or" in Loops

"**or" operator can be used inside loops to control execution based on multiple conditions.

**Example :

Python `

break the loop as soon it sees 'k'

or 'f'

i = 0 s = 'geeksforgeeks'

while i < len(s): if s[i] == 'k' or s[i] == 'f': i += 1 break

print(s[i])
i += 1

`

Using "or" for Default Values

****"or"** keyword is often used to set default values when dealing with empty or None variables.

Python `

user = "" cur_user = user or "Guest"

print(cur_user) # when user is empty

user = "geeks" cur_user = user or "Guest" # when user in not empty

print(cur_user)

`

**Explanation:

• when **user is an empty string ("") (which is falsy), "**or" selects "**Guest".
• when **user contains a value (which is truthy), it gets assigned to **cur_user because ****"or"**.