If and only if

I redirects here. For other uses, see IFF (disambiguation).

"" redirects here. It is not to be confused with
Bidirectional trac.

propositional logic) make a distinction between these, in

which the rst, , is used as a symbol in logic formulas,
while is used in reasoning about those logic formulas
(e.g., in metalogic). In ukasiewicz's notation, it is the
prex symbol 'E'.

Logical symbols representing i

Another term for this logical connective is exclusive nor.

In logic and related elds such as mathematics and

philosophy, if and only if (shortened i) is a 2.2 Proofs
biconditional logical connective between statements.
In most logical systems, one proves a statement of the
In that it is biconditional, the connective can be likened to
form P i Q by proving if P, then Q and if Q, then
the standard material conditional (only if, equal to if ...
P. Proving this pair of statements sometimes leads to
then) combined with its reverse (if); hence the name.
a more natural proof, since there are not obvious condiThe result is that the truth of either one of the connected
tions in which one would infer a biconditional directly.
statements requires the truth of the other (i.e. either both
An alternative is to prove the disjunction "(P and Q) or
statements are true, or both are false). It is controversial
(not-P and not-Q)", which itself can be inferred directly
whether the connective thus dened is properly rendered
from either of its disjunctsthat is, because i is truthby the English if and only if, with its pre-existing meanfunctional, P i Q follows if P and Q have both been
ing. There is nothing to stop one from stipulating that we
shown true, or both false.
may read this connective as only if and if, although this
may lead to confusion.
In writing, phrases commonly used, with debatable propriety, as alternatives to P if and only if Q include Q is
necessary and sucient for P, P is equivalent (or materially equivalent) to Q (compare material implication), P
precisely if Q, P precisely (or exactly) when Q, P exactly in
case Q, and P just in case Q. Many authors regard i as
unsuitable in formal writing;[1] others use it freely.[2]

2.3 Origin of i
Usage of the abbreviation i rst appeared in print in
John L. Kelley's 1955 book General Topology.[4] Its invention is often credited to Paul Halmos, who wrote I
invented 'i,' for 'if and only if'but I could never believe I was really its rst inventor.[5]

In logic formulae, logical symbols are used instead of

these phrases; see the discussion of notation.

3 Distinction from if and only

if

Denition

The truth table of p q is as follows:[3]

1. Madison will eat the fruit if it is an apple.

(equivalent to Only if Madison will eat the fruit,
is it an apple;" or Madison will eat the fruit
fruit is an apple)

Note that it is equivalent to that produced by the XNOR

gate, and opposite to that produced by the XOR gate.

2
2.1

This states simply that Madison will eat

fruits that are apples. It does not, however, exclude the possibility that Madison might also eat bananas or other types
of fruit. All that is known for certain is
that she will eat any and all apples that
she happens upon. That the fruit is an
apple is a sucient condition for Madison to eat the fruit.

Usage
Notation

The corresponding logical symbols are "", "", and

"", and sometimes i. These are usually treated
as equivalent. However, some texts of mathematical
logic (particularly those on rst-order logic, rather than
1

6 FOOTNOTES
2. Madison will eat the fruit only if it is an apple.
(equivalent to If Madison will eat the fruit, then
it is an apple or Madison will eat the fruit
fruit is an apple)
This states that the only fruit Madison
will eat is an apple. It does not, however,
exclude the possibility that Madison will
refuse an apple if it is made available, in
contrast with (1), which requires Madison to eat any available apple. In this
case, that a given fruit is an apple is a necessary condition for Madison to be eating it. It is not a sucient condition since
Madison might not eat all the apples she
is given.

So we see that (2), above, can be restated in the form

of if...then as If Madison will eat the fruit in question,
then it is an apple"; taking this in conjunction with (1),
we nd that (3) can be stated as If the fruit in question is
an apple, then Madison will eat it; AND if Madison will
eat the fruit, then it is an apple.

4 More general usage

I is used outside the eld of logic, wherever logic is

applied, especially in mathematical discussions. It has
the same meaning as above: it is an abbreviation for
if and only if, indicating that one statement is both
necessary and sucient for the other. This is an example
of mathematical jargon. (However, as noted above, if,
3. Madison will eat the fruit if and only if it is an rather than i, is more often used in statements of deapple (equivalent to Madison will eat the fruit nition.)
fruit is an apple)
The elements of X are all and only the elements of Y is
used to mean: for any z in the domain of discourse, z is
This statement makes it clear that Madiin X if and only if z is in Y.
son will eat all and only those fruits that
are apples. She will not leave any apple
uneaten, and she will not eat any other
type of fruit. That a given fruit is an ap5 See also
ple is both a necessary and a sucient
condition for Madison to eat the fruit.
Covariance
Suciency is the inverse of necessity. That is to say,
given PQ (i.e. if P then Q), P would be a sucient
condition for Q, and Q would be a necessary condition
for P. Also, given PQ, it is true that QP (where
is the negation operator, i.e. not). This means that the
relationship between P and Q, established by PQ, can
be expressed in the following, all equivalent, ways:

Logical biconditional
Logical equality
Necessary and sucient condition
Polysyllogism

P is sucient for Q
Q is necessary for P

6 Footnotes

Q is sucient for P
P is necessary for Q
As an example, take (1), above, which states PQ, where
P is the fruit in question is an apple and Q is Madison will eat the fruit in question. The following are four
equivalent ways of expressing this very relationship:
If the fruit in question is an apple, then Madison will eat it.

[1] E.g. Daepp, Ulrich; Gorkin, Pamela (2011), Reading,

Writing, and Proving: A Closer Look at Mathematics,
Undergraduate Texts in Mathematics, Springer, p. 52,
ISBN 9781441994790, While it can be a real time-saver,
we don't recommend it in formal writing.
[2] Rothwell, Edward J.; Cloud, Michael J. (2014),
Engineering Writing by Design: Creating Formal Documents of Lasting Value, CRC Press, p. 98, ISBN
9781482234312, It is common in mathematical writing.

Only if Madison will eat the fruit in question,

is it an apple.

[3] p <=> q. Wolfram|Alpha

If Madison will not eat the fruit in question,

then it is not an apple.

[4] General Topology, reissue ISBN 978-0-387-90125-1

Only if the fruit in question is not an apple, will

Madison not eat it.

[5] Nicholas J. Higham (1998). Handbook of writing for the

mathematical sciences (2nd ed.). SIAM. p. 24. ISBN
978-0-89871-420-3.

External links
Language Log: Just in Case
Southern California Philosophy for philosophy
graduate students: Just in Case

8 TEXT AND IMAGE SOURCES, CONTRIBUTORS, AND LICENSES

Text and image sources, contributors, and licenses

8.1

Text

If and only if Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/If_and_only_if?oldid=675920363 Contributors: Damian Yerrick, AxelBoldt, Matthew

Woodcraft, Vicki Rosenzweig, Zundark, Tarquin, Larry_Sanger, Toby Bartels, Ark~enwiki, Camembert, Stevertigo, Patrick, Chas zzz
brown, Michael Hardy, Wshun, DopeshJustin, Dante Alighieri, Dominus, SGBailey, Wwwwolf, Delirium, Georey~enwiki, Stevenj,
Kingturtle, UserGoogol, Andres, Evercat, Jacquerie27, Adam Conover, Revolver, Wikiborg, Dysprosia, Itai, Ledge, McKay, Robbot,
Psychonaut, Henrygb, Ruakh, Diberri, Tobias Bergemann, Adam78, Enochlau, Giftlite, DavidCary, var Arnfjr Bjarmason, Mellum,
Chinasaur, Jason Quinn, Taak, Superfrank~enwiki, Wmahan, LiDaobing, Mvc, Neutrality, Urhixidur, Ropers, Jewbacca, Karl Dickman,
PhotoBox, Brianjd, Paul August, Sunborn, Elwikipedista~enwiki, Chalst, Edward Z. Yang, Pearle, Ekevu, IgorekSF, Msh210, Interiot,
ABCD, Stillnotelf, Suruena, Voltagedrop, Rhialto, Forderud, Oleg Alexandrov, Joriki, Velho, Woohookitty, Mindmatrix, Ruud Koot, Ryan
Reich, Adjam, Pope on a Rope, Eyu100, R.e.b., FlaBot, Mathbot, Rbonvall, Glenn L, BMF81, Bgwhite, RussBot, Postglock, Voidxor, El
Pollo Diablo, Gadget850, Jkelly, Danielpi, Lt-wiki-bot, TheMadBaron, Nzzl, Arthur Rubin, Netrapt, SmackBot, Ttzz, Gloin~enwiki, Incnis Mrsi, InverseHypercube, Melchoir, GoOdCoNtEnT, Thumperward, Jonatan Swift, Peterwhy, Acdx, Shirifan, Evildictaitor, Abolen,
Rainwarrior, Dicklyon, Mets501, Yuide, Shoeofdeath, CRGreathouse, CBM, Joshwa, Picaroon, Gregbard, Eu.stefan, Letranova, Thijs!bot,
Egrin, Schneau, Jojan, Davkal, AgentPeppermint, Urdutext, Holyknight33, Escarbot, WinBot, Serpents Choice, Timlevin, Singularity,
David Eppstein, Msknathan, MartinBot, AstroHurricane001, Vanished user 47736712, Kenneth M Burke, DorganBot, Bsroiaadn, TXiKiBoT, Anonymous Dissident, Abyaly, Ichtaca, Mouse is back, Rjgodoy, TrippingTroubadour, KjellG, AlleborgoBot, Lillingen, SieBot,
Iamthedeus, This, that and the other, Smaug123, Skippydo, Warman06~enwiki, Tiny plastic Grey Knight, Francvs, Minehava, ClueBot,
Surfeited, BANZ111, Master11218, WestwoodMatt, Excirial, He7d3r, Pfhorrest, Kmddmk, Addbot, Ronhjones, Wikimichael22, Lightbot,
Jarble, Yobot, Bryan.burgers, AnomieBOT, Nejatarn, Ciphers, Quintus314, , WissensDrster, Ex13, Rapsar, Mikespedia,
Lotje, Igor Yalovecky, EmausBot, Ruxkor, Chricho, Sugarfoot1001, Tijfo098, ClueBot NG, Wcherowi, Widr, MerlIwBot, Helpful Pixie
Bot, Solomon7968, Chmarkine, CarrieVS, Ekips39, Epicgenius, Dr Lindsay B Yeates, Matthew Kastor and Anonymous: 144

8.2

Images

File:Brain.png Source: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/73/Nicolas_P._Rougier%27s_rendering_of_the_human_

brain.png License: GPL Contributors: http://www.loria.fr/~{}rougier Original artist: Nicolas Rougier
File:Question_book-new.svg Source: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/9/99/Question_book-new.svg License: Cc-by-sa-3.0
Contributors:
Created from scratch in Adobe Illustrator. Based on Image:Question book.png created by User:Equazcion Original artist:
Tkgd2007

8.3

Content license

Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0