The Guide to Control Structures If, If-Else, and Switch-Case in C Programming

In the C programming language, control structures such as if, if-else, and else allow programmers to make decisions during program execution. These structures are used to branch the flow of execution based on specific conditions. In programming, control structures enable the management of program execution flow. They determine which parts of the code will be executed and under what conditions. By using if, if-else, and if-else if-else structures, programmers can write flexible programs that make decisions based on various conditions. Proper use of these control structures enables efficient management of the program execution flow and increases code readability.

if statement

The if statement is used to check a specific condition. If the condition is true, the block of code within the if statement is executed. If the condition is not true, that block of code is skipped, and the program continues. if statements can be nested, meaning you can have another if within one if block.

if (condition) {

    // Executes if condition is true

}

Decision statements determine the flow of the program

if-else statement

The if-else statement extends if by adding an alternative block of code that is executed if the condition is not met. This allows the program to choose between two possibilities.

if (condition1) {

    // Executes if condition is true

} else {

    // Executes if none of the conditions are true

}

if-else if- else statement

When it is necessary to check multiple conditions, a combination of if with one or more else if parts, with an optional final else, is used. This allows the program to branch into multiple possible outcomes.

 

if (condition1) {

    // Executes if condition1 is true

} else if (condition2) {

    // Executes if condition1 is false and condition2 is true

} else {

    // Executes if none of the conditions are true

}

What Are the Differences in If Statements Between the C Programming Language and Others?

Mastering Conditional Logic in PHP, Deep Dive into if, else and switch Statements

As a prerequisite to understanding conditional statements in PHP, a thorough comprehension of PHP operators is required. We have extensively covered operators in our previous lesson, which you can review here. We hope you've mastered operators, as they are often used in conjunction with if-else and switch-case statements. For instance, experienced programmers frequently use the ternary operator instead of a simple if-else statement. Make sure you're comfortable with operators before moving on to this lesson. Conditional expressions are a fundamental component of any programming language. In PHP programming language, conditional statements play a crucial role in controlling the flow of execution. They enable programs to branch based on specific conditions. In PHP, conditional statements are used to make decisions and execute different blocks of code depending on whether a certain condition is true or false. The most commonly used conditional statements in PHP programming language are:    

if statement

if-else statement

If-elseif-else statement

switch statement

A software engineer decides in advance which PHP conditional statements to use in her project

Conditional statements in PHP offer a flexible way to control the flow of program execution, making code dynamic and adaptable to various scenarios. If, else, elseif, switch, and even the ternary operator are the primary tools programmers use to implement condition-based logic. In the PHP programming language, they are most often used for the following scenarios:

Data validation:

• Checking if the user has entered the correct password

• Checking if the email address is in the correct format

• Checking if the selected option is valid

Controlling the flow of execution:

• Executing different parts of the code depending on the value of a variable

• Skipping certain parts of the code if a certain condition is met

• Repeating a certain part of the code until a condition is met (loops)

Displaying different content based on the user:

• Displaying a different page layout for logged-in and logged-out users

• Displaying different content based on the user's role (admin, moderator, user)

Creating simple calculators and games:

• Calculating results based on input data

• Checking if the user has guessed the correct answer

Form validation:

• Checking if all required fields are filled

• Checking if the data format is correct

Of course, you may have your own programming needs, too. As skilled as you are in using conditional expressions, in real day-to-day decisions, you are as good a programmer as you are.

What is an if-else Statement and How is It used?