# \[Sand Snakes\] Explanation on Python indentation help needed

**URL:** <https://discourse.codecombat.com/t/sand-snakes-explanation-on-python-indentation-help-needed/23599>\
**Category:** Level Help\
**Created:** [August 23, 2020, 2:27am UTC](https://discourse.codecombat.com/t/sand-snakes-explanation-on-python-indentation-help-needed/23599 "2020-08-23T02:27:23Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![yingyiying](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/discourse.codecombat.com/yingyiying/32/13705_2.png) [@yingyiying](https://discourse.codecombat.com/u/yingyiying)\
**Post date:** [August 23, 2020, 2:27am UTC](https://discourse.codecombat.com/t/sand-snakes-explanation-on-python-indentation-help-needed/23599/1 "2020-08-23T02:27:23Z")

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Hello! Love CC so far, had a few stuff I could get by just using Google for explanation, but here’s something I don’t understand:

```python
while True:
    coins = hero.findItems()
    coinIndex = 0
    nearest = None
    nearestDistance = 9999
    
    # Loop through all the coins to find the nearest one.
    while coinIndex < len(coins):
        coin = coins[coinIndex]
        coinIndex += 1
        distance = hero.distanceTo(coin)
        # If this coin's distance is less than the nearestDistance
        if distance < nearestDistance:
            # Set nearest to coin
            nearest = coin
            # Set nearestDistance to distance
            nearestDistance = distance
            
    # If there's a nearest coin, move to its position. You'll need moveXY so you don't cut corners and hit a trap.
            if nearest:
                hero.moveXY(nearest.pos.x, nearest.pos.y)

```

Just for info, I passed the level after fixing the last line’s indentation (the code above is prior to fixing). I don’t understand why is it that I must put that last if statement indented to the while loop, and not indented within the previous if statement? (My understanding for putting this if statement in the previous if statement is that the code can only check if there’s a nearest coin only if the previous if statement’s criteria is met)

I apologize if this question is too vague/intuitive, but any help or explanation would be really appreciated!

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**Author:** ![Deadpool198](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/discourse.codecombat.com/deadpool198/32/16753_2.png) [@Deadpool198](https://discourse.codecombat.com/u/Deadpool198)\
**Post date:** [August 23, 2020, 9:22am UTC](https://discourse.codecombat.com/t/sand-snakes-explanation-on-python-indentation-help-needed/23599/2 "2020-08-23T09:22:21Z")

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Hi @yingyiying, welcome to the forum.

> [@yingyiying](#):
>
> (My understanding for putting this if statement in the previous if statement is that the code can only check if there’s a nearest coin only if the previous if statement’s criteria is met)

You’re correct that that code will only run if

> [@yingyiying](#):
>
> `distance < nearestDistance:`

is True, but remember that when you’re in the middle of checking all the coins, the _current_ coin may be the current “ **nearest** ”, but there may be another coin (_that you haven’t checked yet_ ) which is nearer. Therefore, if you move for that coin, you will not be going in the right direction. Also this will happen for the first coin you check, because nearestDistance is set to a number higher than any distance to any of the coins on the level could be, that means you’ll move for the first coin you check every time.  
This is why you have to wait until the while loop is finished before you could move to the nearest (which at this point will actually be the _nearest_).  
Danny

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**Author:** ![yingyiying](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/discourse.codecombat.com/yingyiying/32/13705_2.png) [@yingyiying](https://discourse.codecombat.com/u/yingyiying)\
**Post date:** [August 23, 2020, 9:45am UTC](https://discourse.codecombat.com/t/sand-snakes-explanation-on-python-indentation-help-needed/23599/3 "2020-08-23T09:45:26Z")

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I see, thank you so much! Coding is pretty intuitive, I’m glad I got a chance to start off here!

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**Author:** ![Deadpool198](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/discourse.codecombat.com/deadpool198/32/16753_2.png) [@Deadpool198](https://discourse.codecombat.com/u/Deadpool198)\
**Post date:** [August 23, 2020, 11:01am UTC](https://discourse.codecombat.com/t/sand-snakes-explanation-on-python-indentation-help-needed/23599/4 "2020-08-23T11:01:58Z")

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My pleasure. 😁 (I’ll close this topic now it’s solved).  
Danny

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Deadpool198](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/discourse.codecombat.com/deadpool198/32/16753_2.png) [@Deadpool198](https://discourse.codecombat.com/u/Deadpool198)\
**Post date:** [August 23, 2020, 11:02am UTC](https://discourse.codecombat.com/t/sand-snakes-explanation-on-python-indentation-help-needed/23599/5 "2020-08-23T11:02:01Z")

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