Control Statements in Java

Java compiler executes the code from top to bottom. The statements in the code
are executed according to the order in which they appear.
However, Java provides statements that can be used to control the flow of Java
code. Such statements are called control flow statements. It is one of the
fundamental features of Java, which provides a smooth flow of program.

Java provides three types of control flow statements.

1. Decision Making statements

o if statements
o switch statement
2. Loop statements
o do while loop
o while loop
o for loop
o for-each loop
3. Jump statements
o break statement
o continue statement
Java if-else Statement
In programming, decision-making plays a pivotal role in determining the flow of
execution. Whether it's directing traffic in a complex intersection or navigating
through various scenarios in a program, making decisions is essential. In Java,
one of the fundamental constructs for decision-making is the 'if-else' statement.
Let's delve into what 'if-else' statements are, how they work, and how they can
be effectively utilised in Java programming.

The Java if statement is used to test the condition. It checks the Boolean
condition: true or false. There are mainly four types of if statements in Java.

1. if statement
2. if-else statement
3. if-else-if ladder
4. nested if statement

Java if Statement
The simplest type of control structure for decision-making in Java is the if
statement. It executes the if block if the condition is true. It checks a Boolean
condition and executes the code block inside the if statement if the condition is
true. This statement merely bypasses the block if the condition is false. Using
specific criteria helps regulate the program's flow. It is frequently employed in
real-world applications for conditional executions, checks, and validation.

Syntax:

1. if(condition){
2. //code to be executed
3. }
Example
1. //Java Program to demonstate the use of if statement.
2. public class Main {
3. public static void main(String[] args) {
4. //defining an 'age' variable
5. int age=20;
6. //checking the age
7. if(age>18){
8. System.out.print("Age is greater than 18");
9. }
10. }
11. }
Output:

Age is greater than 18

Java if-else Statement
The Java if-else statement is a basic control structure that allows us to run
multiple code blocks depending on whether a condition is true or false. It
executes the if block if the condition is true; otherwise, the else block is
executed. It enables decision-making within a program and permits the
execution flow to alter based on different circumstances. In real-time situations
like error handling, branching logic, and validation, it is frequently utilized.

Syntax:

1. if(condition){
2. //code if condition is true
3. }else{
4. //code if condition is false
5. }
Example
1. //Java Program to demonstrate the use of if-else statement.
2. //It is a program of odd and even number.
3. public class Main {
4. public static void main(String[] args) {
5. //defining a variable
6. int number=13;
7. //Check if the number is divisible by 2 or not
8. if(number%2==0){
9. System.out.println("even number");
10. }else{
11. System.out.println("odd number");
12. }
13. }
 14. }
Output:

odd number

Program to determine whether the year is a leap year or not

A year is a leap, if it is divisible by 4 and 400. But, not by 100.

Example
1. public class Main {
2. public static void main(String[] args) {
3. int year=2020;
4. if(((year % 4 ==0) && (year % 100 !=0)) || (year % 400==0)){
5. System.out.println("LEAP YEAR");
6. }
7. else{
8. System.out.println("COMMON YEAR");
9. }
10. }
11. }
Output:

LEAP YEAR

Java if-else-if ladder Statement

The if-else-if ladder statement executes one condition from multiple statements.
An optional else block comes at the end of the code after an if condition and one
or more else if blocks. Every condition is checked from top to bottom as the
program runs, and the block corresponding to the first true condition is run. The
else block is run if none of the conditions are met. Many possible paths can be
handled clearly and understandably with the help of this statement.

Syntax:

1. if(condition1){
2. //code to be executed if condition1 is true
3. }else if(condition2){
4. //code to be executed if condition2 is true
5. }
6. else if(condition3){
7. //code to be executed if condition3 is true
8. }
9. ...
 10. else{
11. //code to be executed if all the conditions are false
12. }

Program to determine the grading system

Example
1. //Java Program to demonstrate the use of If else-if ladder.
2. //It is a program of grading system for fail, D grade, C grade, B grad
e, A grade and A+.
3. public class Main {
4. public static void main(String[] args) {
5. int marks=65;
6.
7. if(marks<50){
8. System.out.println("fail");
 9. }
10. else if(marks>=50 && marks<60){
11. System.out.println("D grade");
12. }
13. else if(marks>=60 && marks<70){
14. System.out.println("C grade");
15. }
16. else if(marks>=70 && marks<80){
17. System.out.println("B grade");
18. }
19. else if(marks>=80 && marks<90){
20. System.out.println("A grade");
21. }else if(marks>=90 && marks<100){
22. System.out.println("A+ grade");
23. }else{
24. System.out.println("Invalid!");
25. }
26. }
27. }
Output:

C grade

Program to check whether the number is POSITIVE, NEGATIVE

or ZERO

Example
1. public class Main {
2. public static void main(String[] args) {
3. int number=-13;
4. if(number>0){
5. System.out.println("POSITIVE");
6. }else if(number<0){
7. System.out.println("NEGATIVE");
8. }else{
9. System.out.println("ZERO");
10. }
11. }
12. }
Output:

NEGATIVE

Java Nested if statement

In Java, putting one if statement inside another is known as a "nested if
statement." In this way, a hierarchical decision-making framework is created,
allowing you to check for a secondary condition only if the first condition is true.
It is helpful for testing several linked circumstances that are interdependent.
Nested if statements are strong, but they should be used sparingly to prevent
making the code difficult to read and update.

Syntax:

1. if(condition){
2. //code to be executed
3. if(condition){
4. //code to be executed
5. }
6. }
Program to determine whether a person is eligible for blood
donation or not

Example
1. //Java Program to demonstrate the use of Nested If Statement.
 2. public class Main {
3. public static void main(String[] args) {
4. //Creating two variables for age and weight
5. int age=20;
6. int weight=80;
7. //applying condition on age and weight
8. if(age>=18){
9. if(weight>50){
10. System.out.println("You are eligible to donate blood");
11. }
12. }
13. }}
Output:

You are eligible to donate blood

Example 2:

Example
1. //Java Program to demonstrate the use of Nested If Statement.
2. public class Main {
3. public static void main(String[] args) {
4. //Creating two variables for age and weight
5. int age=25;
6. int weight=48;
7. //applying condition on age and weight
8. if(age>=18){
9. if(weight>50){
10. System.out.println("You are eligible to donate blood");
11. } else{
12. System.out.println("You are not eligible to donate blood")
;
13. }
14. } else{
15. System.out.println("Age must be greater than 18");
16. }
17. }
18. }
Output:

You are not eligible to donate blood

Ternary Operator
We can also use ternary operator (? :) to perform the task of if...else statement.
It is a shorthand way to check the condition. If the condition is true, the result
of ? is returned. But, if the condition is false, the result of : is returned.

Example
1. public class Main {
2. public static void main(String[] args) {
3. int number=13;
4. //Using ternary operator
5. String output=(number%2==0)?"even number":"odd number";
6. System.out.println(output);
7. }
8. }
Output:

odd number

Important Points to Remember

Readability: To improve readability, make sure your conditions are
straightforward. It is possible to decompose complex conditions into several
if...else expressions.

Avoid Deep Nesting: Code that is too deeply nested may be difficult to read.
Examine employing logical operators (&&, ||) or segmenting logic into distinct
techniques.

Use else if numerous Conditions: To reduce pointless assessments and

enhance performance, use else if when you have multiple conditions to
examine.

Braces Using: How to Use Braces {} Even when writing single-line blocks,
always use brackets {}. By doing this, errors during code maintenance are
avoided, and readability is enhanced.

Boolean Expressions: Make sure your Boolean expressions make sense inside
the given application logic framework.

Conclusion:
'If-else' statements are indispensable tools in Java programming for making
decisions based on conditions. They provide the flexibility to execute different
code blocks based on varying circumstances, thus enabling developers to create
dynamic and responsive applications. By mastering the usage of 'if-else'
statements, programmers can unlock the full potential of Java for crafting
efficient and robust software solutions.