> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.sourcery.ai/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Guard

#### Sourcery refactoring id: `guard`

#### Description:

Adds in guard clause to a conditional

#### Before:

```python
def set_hat_details(hat):
    if hat.stylish and is_summer_hat(hat):
        hat.tag = "SUMMER"
    elif not hat:
        pass
    elif hat.stylish and is_winter_hat(hat):
        hat.tag = "WINTER"
```

#### After:

```python
def set_hat_details(hat):
    if not hat:
        return

    if hat.stylish and is_summer_hat(hat):
        hat.tag = "SUMMER"
    elif hat.stylish and is_winter_hat(hat):
        hat.tag = "WINTER"
```

#### Explanation:

Often one option within an `if..elif` conditional will have no effect, and hence
have only a `pass` within it. Where there is no further code within the block
afterwards it is possible to extract this branch out as a guard condition. This
can then sometimes allow further refinements to be made to the `if..elif`
statements. Sourcery only suggests this refactoring if it unlocks such further
changes - for example in the above case it would be combined with
`lift-duplicated-conditional` to give the following output:

```python
def set_hat_details(hat):
    if not hat:
        return
    if hat.stylish:
        if is_summer_hat(hat):
            hat.tag = "SUMMER"
        elif is_winter_hat(hat):
            hat.tag = "WINTER"
```