What does the statement "if condition:" indicate in Python?

The statement "if condition:" is used in Python to begin a conditional block. This means that the code following this statement will only execute if the specified condition evaluates to True. It allows programmers to control the flow of their program based on certain conditions, enabling decision-making within the code.

For instance, if you have a condition that checks whether a number is positive, the subsequent indented code block will only run if that condition is met. This is a fundamental concept in programming, often referred to as "conditional statements," which are crucial for implementing logic and handling different scenarios based on varying inputs.

In contrast, starting a loop involves different keywords, such as "for" or "while," to repeat a block of code. Defining a function utilizes the "def" keyword, and ending a program is not indicated by a specific statement but rather by the program reaching its natural conclusion or encountering an explicit exit command like "exit()" or "sys.exit()".