GDScript if, elif, else and the Ternary Operator

if runs a block only when its condition is true. elif adds more conditions, and else catches everything left:

extends Node

func health_label(hp: int) -> String:
	if hp > 70:
		return "healthy"
	elif hp > 30:
		return "hurt"
	elif hp > 0:
		return "critical"
	else:
		return "defeated"

func _ready():
	for hp in [100, 50, 10, 0]:
		print(hp, ": ", health_label(hp))

100: healthy
50: hurt
10: critical
0: defeated

Godot tests the conditions from the top and runs the first one that is true. The rest are skipped, so the order matters: check hp > 70 before hp > 30.

Comparison and Logic Operators

extends Node

func _ready():
	var has_key := true
	var level := 3
	var weapon := "bow"

	if has_key and level >= 3:
		print("The door opens")
	if not has_key or level < 2:
		print("Locked")
	if weapon in ["bow", "crossbow"]:
		print("Ranged attack")
	if "o" in weapon:
		print("The word has an o")

The door opens
Ranged attack
The word has an o

and and or stop early. In target != null and target.hp > 0, the second part only runs when target is not null, so this is a safe way to guard an access.

Truthy and Falsy Values

A condition does not have to be a bool. These values count as false: 0, 0.0, "", [], {}, null and zero vectors. Everything else counts as true:

extends Node

func _ready():
	var inventory := []
	var player_name := "Ana"
	if not inventory:
		print("Inventory is empty")
	if player_name:
		print("Hello, ", player_name)
	if Vector2.ZERO:
		print("never printed")

Inventory is empty
Hello, Ana

The Ternary Form

For a choice between two values, write it on one line: a if condition else b.

extends Node

func _ready():
	var hp := 0
	var status := "alive" if hp > 0 else "defeated"
	print(status)
	var coins := 1
	print("%d %s" % [coins, "coin" if coins == 1 else "coins"])

defeated
1 coin

It is an expression, so it goes wherever a value goes: a variable, an argument, a return. Keep it for short choices. Nested ternaries are legal but hard to read; use if or match instead.

Nesting and Early Returns

Deep nesting makes game logic hard to follow. A common Godot pattern is to return early when a condition fails:

func _physics_process(delta):
	if not is_on_floor():
		velocity.y += gravity * delta
		return
	if Input.is_action_just_pressed("jump"):
		velocity.y = -jump_speed

Each if handles one case and leaves, so the code below it can assume the case did not happen.

An Empty Block

GDScript does not allow an empty block. Use pass as a placeholder while you write the rest:

if enemy_in_range:
	pass  # attack logic goes here later