in Python, are statements objects?

Question

As far as I understand, everything in python is an object or a reference. For example: in x = 1, x is a reference to the integer object 1. If I write print type(x), then Python will tell me the object that x is referencing is an integer.

So what about statements such as if?

if I try print type(if), unsurprisingly, I get a syntax error. I can speculate on why this is the case. Maybe if is a static method of a class, or maybe it has somehow been weirdly defined as non returnable, etc. I just don't know.

Ultimately, I suspect that if has nothing to do with an object or a reference. However, that would surely go against the idea of everything being an object or a reference?

Statements are the recipe of your program. They're read, tokenized, parsed, and compiled to bytecode. They're not objects or functions. — Ilja Everilä
– Ilja Everilä, Commented Sep 19, 2016 at 10:09

user2005218 · Accepted Answer · 2016-09-19 10:12:00Z

4

When they say "everything is an object or a reference" they are referring specifically to data. So this naturally does not apply to statements. Of course, all expressions will result in data. For example a == b is <class 'bool'> because it is an expression.

There are some languages where if is an expression but python is not one of them.

answered Sep 19, 2016 at 10:12

user2005218

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daydreamingwill Over a year ago

Right ok, that makes a lot more sense. I just tested print type(a ==b), to confirm you were right, and I had a bit of a wow moment haha when it did indeed, as you said it would, print out <type 'bool'>. Thanks a lot!

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