[Part 3]Control Flow and Decision Making in Python for QA Scripts

Introduction

Control flow is the backbone of any decision-making in test automation. This module explores how to use conditionals and loops to add logic and repetition to your test scripts.

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Lesson 1: Conditional Statements (if, elif, else)

Concept:
Use conditional logic to determine the flow of your test cases.

Key Topics:

• if Statement: Executes a block if a condition is true.
• elif Statement: Checks other conditions if previous ones fail.
• else Statement: Default action if no condition is met.

Example:

status = "Passed"
if status == "Passed":
    print("Test passed")
elif status == "Failed":
    print("Test failed")
else:
    print("Status unknown")

Pro Tip: Keep your conditional logic clean and readable.

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Lesson 2: Mastering Loops (for, while)

Concept:
Loops help automate repetitive test tasks such as running multiple test cases.

Key Topics:

• for Loops: Iterating over sequences like lists or strings.
• while Loops: Running until a condition is no longer true.
• break & continue: Controlling loop execution.

Example:

tests = ["Login", "Signup", "Checkout"]
for test in tests:
    print(f"Running {test} test")

Pro Tip: Use enumerate() when you need the index while iterating.

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Lesson 3: Boolean Logic and Comparison Operators

Concept:
Logical and comparison operations are crucial for building assertions.

Key Topics:

• Boolean Operators: and, or, not
• Comparison Operators: ==, !=, >, <, >=, <=
• Combining Conditions: Multiple logic checks in one statement.

Example:

status = "Passed"
attempts = 2

if status == "Passed" and attempts <= 3:
    print("Test passed within limit")

Pro Tip: Group conditions using parentheses for clarity.

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Lesson 4: Practical Exercises

Concept:
Reinforce your learning by applying control flow to real-world QA scenarios.

Task Ideas:

• Create a test loop that simulates 5 API response validations.
• Write a script that classifies a test as Pass/Fail based on input.
• Build a script that exits a loop once all tests return "Passed."

Pro Tip: Practice makes perfect — the more you use control structures, the more intuitive they become.

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Conclusion

Control flow allows you to build intelligent test scripts that can make decisions and iterate dynamically.

Key Takeaways:

• Use conditionals to direct test execution.
• Loops are ideal for repetitive validation tasks.
• Boolean logic helps automate result analysis.

What’s Next?
In the next module, we’ll explore Data Structures in Python: Organizing Test Data Effectively, where you’ll learn how to manage lists, dictionaries, and sets in your test scripts.

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