Python 3.10+Conditionalsconstruct

match / case

pattern matching

Structural pattern matching (Python 3.10+): a value is matched against literals, types and structures; case _ catches everything else.

Syntax

match subject:
    case pattern1: ...
    case pattern2 if guard: ...
    case _: ...

The main trap: a bare name in a case does not compare against an existing variable — it captures, always matching and binding the value to that name. To match a constant you need a literal or a dotted name (for example Status.OK), otherwise that case swallows everything. Available only in Python 3.10 and later.

Examples

match "quit":
    case "quit": print("выход")   # → выход
    case "help": print("помощь")  # не выполнится: сработал первый case
    case _:      print("неизвестно")
point = (0, 1)
match point:
    case (0, 0): print("начало")
    case (0, y): print(f"ось Y, y={y}")  # → ось Y, y=1
    case (x, y) if x == y: print("диагональ")
    case _: print("общий")
match 42:
    case int(n) if n > 10: print(f"большое {n}")  # → большое 42
    case _: print("другое")

See also

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