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Control Structures

Control structures determine the flow and direction of a program based on conditions. Preconditions are the variable states before a control structure, and postconditions are the states after. An example uses traffic lights - the precondition is a vehicle in motion, and the control structure determines if it stops (red light) or continues (green light). Common control structures include IF-THEN (executes code if condition is true), IF-THEN-ELSE (executes one code block if true, another if false), WHILE (executes code repeatedly as long as a condition is true), DO-WHILE (executes code once then repeats as long as condition is true), and FOR (sets a starting point, end condition

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95 views

Control Structures

Control structures determine the flow and direction of a program based on conditions. Preconditions are the variable states before a control structure, and postconditions are the states after. An example uses traffic lights - the precondition is a vehicle in motion, and the control structure determines if it stops (red light) or continues (green light). Common control structures include IF-THEN (executes code if condition is true), IF-THEN-ELSE (executes one code block if true, another if false), WHILE (executes code repeatedly as long as a condition is true), DO-WHILE (executes code once then repeats as long as condition is true), and FOR (sets a starting point, end condition

Uploaded by

Brent Allen C. Benedicto
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Control structures

Flow Control Overview


A control structure is a block of programming that analyzes variables and chooses a
direction in which to go based on given parameters. The term flow control details the direction the
program takes (which way program control "flows"). Hence it is the basic decision-making process
in computing; flow control determines how a computer will respond when given certain conditions
and parameters.
Basic Terminologies
Those initial conditions and parameters are called preconditions. Preconditions are the state
of variables before entering a control structure. Based on those preconditions, the computer runs
an algorithm (the control structure) to determine what to do. The result is called a postcondition.
Postconditions are the state of variables after the algorithm is run.
An Example
Let us analyze flow control by using traffic flow as a model. A vehicle is arriving at an
intersection. Thus, the precondition is the vehicle is in motion. Suppose the traffic light at the
intersection is red. The control structure must determine the proper course of action to assign to
the vehicle. Precondition: The vehicle is in motion. Treatments of Information through Control
Structures Is the traffic light green? If so, then the vehicle may stay in motion. Is the traffic light
red? If so, then the vehicle must stop. End of Treatment Postcondition: The vehicle comes to a
stop. Thus, upon exiting the control structure, the vehicle is stopped.

IF-THEN Statement
The IF-THEN statement is a simple control that tests whether a condition is true or false.
The condition can include a variable, or be a variable. If the variable is an integer 2, it will be true,
because any number that is not zero will be true. If the condition is true, then an action occurs. If
the condition is false, nothing is done.
To illustrate:
IF variable is true
THEN take this course of action.
If the variable indeed holds a value consistent with being true, then the course of action is taken.
If the variable is not true, then there is no course of action taken.
IF-THEN-ELSE Statement
IF-THEN statements test for only one action. With an IF-THEN-ELSE statement, the
control can "look both ways" so to speak, and take a secondary course of action. If the condition
is true, then an action occurs. If the condition is false, take an alternate action.
To illustrate:
IF variable is true
THEN take this course of action
ELSE call another routine
In this case, if the variable is true, it takes a certain course of action and completely skips the ELSE
clause. If the variable is false, the control structure calls a routine and completely skips the THEN
clause.
Note that you can combine ELSE's with other IF's, allowing several tests to be made. In an IF-
THEN-ELSEIF-THEN-ELSEIF-THEN-ELSEIF-THEN structure, tests will stop as soon as a
condition is true. That's why you'd probably want to put the most "likely" test first, for efficiency
(Remembering that ELSE's are skipped if the first condition is true, meaning that the remaining
portions of the IF-THEN-ELSEIF... would not be processed). eg:
In case your computer doesn't start
IF a floppy disk is in the drive
THEN remove it and restart
ELSE IF you don't have any OS installed
THEN install an OS
ELSE call the hotline
You can have as many ELSE IF's as you like.

WHILE and DO-WHILE Loops


A WHILE loop is a process in which a loop is initiated until a condition has been met. This
structure is useful when performing iterative instructions to satisfy a certain parameter.
To illustrate:
Precondition: variable X is equal to 1
WHILE X is not equal to 9
Add 1 to X
This routine will add 1 to X until X is equal to 9, at which point the control structure will quit and
move on to the next instruction. Note that when the structure quits, it will not execute the Add
function: when X is equal to 9, it will skip over the clause that is attached to the WHILE. This
instruction is useful if a parameter needs to be tested repeatedly before acceptance.

DO-WHILE Loops
A DO-WHILE loop is nearly the exact opposite to a WHILE loop. A WHILE loop initially
checks to see if the parameters have been satisfied before executing an instruction. A DO-WHILE
loop executes the instruction before checking the parameters.
To illustrate:
DO Add 1 to X
WHILE X is not equal 9
As you can see, the example differs from the first illustration, where the DO action is taken before
the WHILE. The WHILE is inclusive in the DO. As such, if the WHILE results in a false (X is
equal to 9), the control structure will break and will not perform another DO. Note that if X is
equal to or greater than 9 prior to entering the DO-WHILE loop, then the loop will never terminate.

FOR Loops
A FOR loop is an extension of a while loop. A for loop usually has three commands. The
first is used to set a starting point (like x = 0). The second is the end condition (same as in a while
loop) and is run every round. The third is also run every round and is usually used to modify a
value used in the condition block.
FOR X is 0. X is less than 10.
Add 1 to X.
This loop would be run 10 times (x being 0 to 9) so you won't have to think about the X
variable in the loop you can just put code there. Here is a while loop that does the same:
X is 0
WHILE X is less than 10
Add 1 to X
Some programming languages also have a foreach loop which will be useful when working with
arrays (and collections). A foreach loop is an even more automated while loop that cycles through
array's and such. Example:
FOREACH student IN students
give a good mark to student

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