Pattern Matching

Python 3.10 introduced structural pattern matching using the match statement.

Pattern matching allows programs to dispatch behavior based on the structure of data.

---

Basic Syntax

match value:

    case pattern:
        action
````

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## Example

```python
def http_status(code):

    match code:

        case 200:
            return "OK"

        case 404:
            return "Not Found"

        case _:
            return "Unknown"

The underscore _ acts as a wildcard.

---

Multiple Patterns

match day:

    case "Saturday" | "Sunday":
        print("Weekend")

    case _:
        print("Weekday")

---

Guards

Guards allow conditional checks.

match number:

    case int(x) if x > 0:
        print("positive")

    case int(x) if x < 0:
        print("negative")

Pattern matching provides a more expressive alternative to long if-elif chains.