---
title: "@if and @else"
---

The `@if` rule is written `@if <expression> { ... }`, and it controls whether or
not its block gets evaluated (including emitting any styles as CSS). The
[expression][] usually returns either [`true` or `false`][]—if the expression
returns `true`, the block is evaluated, and if the expression returns `false`
it's not.

[expression]: ../../syntax/structure#expressions
[`true` or `false`]: ../../values/booleans

<%= partial 'code-snippets/example-if' %>

## `@else`

An `@if` rule can optionally be followed by an `@else` rule, written
`@else { ... }`. This rule's block is evaluated if the `@if` expression returns
`false`.

<% example do %>
$light-background: #f2ece4;
$light-text: #036;
$dark-background: #6b717f;
$dark-text: #d2e1dd;

@mixin theme-colors($light-theme: true) {
  @if $light-theme {
    background-color: $light-background;
    color: $light-text;
  } @else {
    background-color: $dark-background;
    color: $dark-text;
  }
}

.banner {
  @include theme-colors($light-theme: true);
  body.dark & {
    @include theme-colors($light-theme: false);
  }
}
===
$light-background: #f2ece4
$light-text: #036
$dark-background: #6b717f
$dark-text: #d2e1dd

@mixin theme-colors($light-theme: true)
  @if $light-theme
    background-color: $light-background
    color: $light-text
  @else
    background-color: $dark-background
    color: $dark-text



.banner
  @include theme-colors($light-theme: true)
  body.dark &
    @include theme-colors($light-theme: false)
<% end %>

### `@else if`

You can also choose whether to evaluate an `@else` rule's block by writing it
`@else if <expression> { ... }`. If you do, the block is evaluated only if the
preceding `@if`'s expression returns `false` *and* the `@else if`'s expression
returns `true`.

In fact, you can to chain as many `@else if`s as you want after an `@if`. The
first block in the chain whose expression returns `true` will be evaluated, and
no others. If there's a plain `@else` at the end of the chain, its block will be
evaluated if every other block fails.

<% example do %>
@mixin triangle($size, $color, $direction) {
  height: 0;
  width: 0;

  border-color: transparent;
  border-style: solid;
  border-width: $size / 2;

  @if $direction == up {
    border-bottom-color: $color;
  } @else if $direction == right {
    border-left-color: $color;
  } @else if $direction == down {
    border-top-color: $color;
  } @else if $direction == left {
    border-right-color: $color;
  } @else {
    @error "Unknown direction #{$direction}.";
  }
}

.next {
  @include triangle(5px, black, right);
}
===
@mixin triangle($size, $color, $direction)
  height: 0
  width: 0

  border-color: transparent
  border-style: solid
  border-width: $size / 2

  @if $direction == up
    border-bottom-color: $color
  @else if $direction == right
    border-left-color: $color
  @else if $direction == down
    border-top-color: $color
  @else if $direction == left
    border-right-color: $color
  @else
    @error "Unknown direction #{$direction}."



.next
  @include triangle(5px, black, right)
<% end %>

<%= partial 'documentation/snippets/truthiness-and-falsiness' %>