Python Main Guard

The Python Main Guard pattern is if __name__ == "__main__":. In Brevvie Python + AI — Section 1: Setup Your IDE, it is taught as a core Python structure pattern.

Purpose

It lets one file work both as:

• a runnable script, and
• an importable module

Why it matters

Without the main guard, script-only behavior like prompts or execution side effects would run even when the file is imported elsewhere.

Related concepts

• functions
• imports
• Python Packaging