---
title: when an if condition returns an value, else is not necessary
description: Datadog, the leading service for cloud-scale monitoring.
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  Docs > Datadog Security > Code Security > Static Code Analysis (SAST) > SAST
  Rules > when an if condition returns an value, else is not necessary
---

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# when an if condition returns an value, else is not necessary

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## Metadata{% #metadata %}

**ID:** `python-best-practices/if-return-no-else`

**Language:** Python

**Severity:** Notice

**Category:** Best Practices

## Description{% #description %}

If the code in the `if` branch returns a value, do not have the `else` branch present.

## Non-Compliant Code Examples{% #non-compliant-code-examples %}

```python
if bla:
	foo()
	return 1
else:  # unnecessary, remove the else branch
	return 2
```

## Compliant Code Examples{% #compliant-code-examples %}

```python
if bla:
	foo()
	return 1
elif bar:
	return 2
```

```python
if bla:
	foo()
	return 1
return 2
```

```python
if bla:
	foo()
else:
	return 2
```
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