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PYTHON
Less Than or Equal To in Python: Syntax, Usage, and Examples
The <=
operator in Python checks whether the value on the left is less than or equal to the value on the right. If the condition is true, it returns True
; otherwise, it returns False
.
How to Use the Less Than or Equal To Operator in Python
The syntax for using the less than or equal to operator is straightforward:
value1 <= value2
Here, Python evaluates whether value1
is less than, or equal to, value2
. If either condition is satisfied, the result is True
.
Example:
print(5 <= 10) # True
print(7 <= 7) # True
print(9 <= 4) # False
The operator works with numbers, strings (based on lexicographical order), and even with variables holding comparable values.
When to Use the Less Than or Equal To Operator in Python
The <=
operator is useful in a variety of programming tasks. Here are some common use cases:
1. Conditional Statements
You can use <=
in if
statements to control program logic based on a condition.
user_age = 17
if user_age <= 18:
print("You qualify for a student discount.")
This checks if user_age
is less than or equal to 18.
2. Loop Conditions
Use <=
to keep a loop running until a certain threshold is reached.
count = 1
while count <= 5:
print(count)
count += 1
This loop runs while count
is less than or equal to 5.
3. Range Validation
It’s useful when checking if a value falls within a specified range.
score = 85
if 80 <= score <= 90:
print("You're within the B grade range.")
This checks if the score is between 80 and 90, inclusive.
Examples of Less Than or Equal To in Python
Let’s look at a few more practical examples to understand how <=
works in real-world scenarios.
Budget Comparison
budget = 100
cart_total = 95
if cart_total <= budget:
print("Purchase is within budget.")
else:
print("Over budget!")
Text Comparison
word1 = "apple"
word2 = "banana"
print(word1 <= word2) # True, because "apple" comes before "banana"
In Python, strings are compared based on alphabetical order using their Unicode values.
Function Conditions
You can return results from a function based on less than or equal comparisons.
def check_speed(speed):
if speed <= 60:
return "Safe"
else:
return "Too fast!"
print(check_speed(55)) # Output: Safe
Grade Feedback Example
grade = 72
if grade <= 50:
print("Failing grade.")
elif grade <= 70:
print("Average grade.")
else:
print("Good job!")
This shows how you can use multiple <=
conditions to break values into categories.
Learn More About the Less Than or Equal To Operator
Chained Comparisons
Python allows chained comparisons, which can be more expressive and readable than using and
operators.
temperature = 18
if 15 <= temperature <= 25:
print("Temperature is within the comfortable range.")
This reads almost like natural language and is common in Python for checking ranges.
<=
vs <
It’s easy to confuse <=
(less than or equal to) with <
(less than). The key difference is inclusion:
x < y
: True only ifx
is strictly less thany
x <= y
: True ifx
is less than or equal toy
Example:
x = 10
print(x < 10) # False
print(x <= 10) # True
Comparison with Variables
The <=
operator works with any two values that can be compared, including variables.
a = 12
b = 20
c = 12
print(a <= b) # True
print(a <= c) # True
print(b <= a) # False
Using <=
in Sorting Logic
In some applications, like leaderboard logic or sorting algorithms, <=
is useful for deciding insertion points or comparison behavior.
def insert_if_allowed(new_score, high_score):
if new_score <= high_score:
return "Score too low to enter leaderboard."
else:
return "New high score!"
print(insert_if_allowed(85, 90))
Type Errors
Using <=
on non-comparable types will raise a TypeError
.
# This will raise a TypeError:
# print([1, 2, 3] <= 5)
Always make sure you're comparing compatible data types—like integers to integers or strings to strings.
The <=
operator in Python is essential for writing conditional logic, validating input ranges, and building comparisons into functions, loops, and sorting logic. Whether you’re checking if a user’s input fits within boundaries, looping over a set number of items, or categorizing data, using <=
helps keep your code clean and expressive.
Keep experimenting with different data types and conditions, and you'll quickly find how versatile this operator can be.
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