Is there a way to simplify this if else block?

Question

So I have this really long if else block and I was wondering if there is a way to simplify it?

def position(self, k):
    
    if self.b == None:
        self.b = k

    if (self.b).location_of(k) == 0:
        if self.aquire(0) == None:
            self.put(0, ABK(k))
        else:
            self.aquire(0).insert(k)
    elif (self.b).location_of(k) == 1:
        if self.aquire(1) == None:
            self.put(1, ABK(k))
        else:
            self.aquire(1).insert(k)
    elif (self.b).location_of(k) == 2:
        if self.aquire(2) == None:
            self.put(2, ABK(k))
        else:
            self.aquire(2).insert(k)

Answer 1

You could store the value of self.b.location_of(k) on a variable and use it later to call your functions.

def position(self, k):
    
    if self.b is None:
        self.b = k
    loc = self.b.location_of(k)
    if loc < 0 or loc > 2:
        return  # Return in case the value is out of scope
    if self.aquire(loc) is None:
        self.put(loc, ABK(k))
    else:
        self.aquire(loc).insert(k)

Edit:

Olvin Roght pointed out that you can also save the result of the self.aquire(loc) call:

def position(self, k):
    
    if self.b is None:
        self.b = k
    loc = self.b.location_of(k)
    if loc < 0 or loc > 2:
        return
    aqu = self.aquire(loc)
    if aqu is None:
        self.put(loc, ABK(k))
    else:
        aqu.insert(k)

Answer 2

As of python 3.8, you can achieve a result similar to the other answers in a shorter manner using the walrus operator (:=), more formally known as the assignment expression operator. This sort of inline assignment is similar to the way assignment can sometimes be done in nested ifs in C:

def position(self, k):
    if self.b is None:
        self.b = k
    if 0 <= (loc := self.b.location_of(k)) <= 2:
        if (val := self.aquire(loc)) is None:
            self.put(loc, ABK(k))
        else:
            val.insert(k)

In addition to the more obvious changes, I recommend using x is None rather than x == None, as it is the more idiomatic comparison.