What is conditional statement?

What is a Conditional Statement?

A conditional statement in programming is a control flow statement that allows a program to make decisions based on certain conditions. It enables the program to execute different blocks of code depending on whether a specific condition is true or false. Conditional statements are a fundamental concept in programming, as they allow for the creation of dynamic and adaptive programs that can respond to different scenarios.

The Basics of Conditional Statements

The basic structure of a conditional statement in C programming language typically follows this format:

if (condition) {
    // code to be executed if the condition is true
} else {
    // code to be executed if the condition is false
}

In this structure, the if keyword is used to introduce the conditional statement, and the condition is enclosed within parentheses. If the condition is evaluated as true, the code block within the first set of curly braces ({}) is executed. If the condition is false, the code block within the else clause is executed instead.

Here's an example of a simple conditional statement in C:

int age = 18;

if (age >= 18) {
    printf("You are an adult.\n");
} else {
    printf("You are a minor.\n");
}

In this example, the program checks if the age variable is greater than or equal to 18. If the condition is true, the program prints "You are an adult." If the condition is false, the program prints "You are a minor."

Compound Conditional Statements

Conditional statements can also be chained together to create more complex decision-making structures. This is known as a compound conditional statement. Here's an example:

int score = 85;

if (score >= 90) {
    printf("You got an A.\n");
} else if (score >= 80) {
    printf("You got a B.\n");
} else if (score >= 70) {
    printf("You got a C.\n");
} else {
    printf("You failed.\n");
}

In this example, the program checks the value of the score variable and prints the corresponding grade based on the following conditions:

• If the score is greater than or equal to 90, the program prints "You got an A."
• If the score is greater than or equal to 80 (but less than 90), the program prints "You got a B."
• If the score is greater than or equal to 70 (but less than 80), the program prints "You got a C."
• If the score is less than 70, the program prints "You failed."

Nested Conditional Statements

Conditional statements can also be nested within other conditional statements, creating a more complex decision-making structure. Here's an example:

int age = 25;
int gender = 1; // 1 for male, 0 for female

if (age >= 18) {
    if (gender == 1) {
        printf("You are an adult male.\n");
    } else {
        printf("You are an adult female.\n");
    }
} else {
    if (gender == 1) {
        printf("You are a minor male.\n");
    } else {
        printf("You are a minor female.\n");
    }
}

In this example, the program first checks if the age variable is greater than or equal to 18. If the condition is true, it then checks the value of the gender variable to determine whether the person is an adult male or adult female. If the initial condition is false, the program checks the gender variable again to determine whether the person is a minor male or minor female.

Mermaid Diagram: Conditional Statements

This Mermaid diagram illustrates the basic structure of a conditional statement. The program starts at the Start node, then evaluates the condition. If the condition is true, the program executes the code block associated with the true condition. If the condition is false, the program executes the code block associated with the false condition. Finally, the program ends at the End node.

Real-World Examples

Conditional statements are used in a wide range of applications, from simple decision-making to complex problem-solving. Here are some real-world examples:

1. Weather App: A weather app uses conditional statements to determine the appropriate weather icon and forecast information to display based on the current weather conditions (e.g., sunny, rainy, cloudy).

2. E-commerce Website: An e-commerce website uses conditional statements to check the user's shopping cart and apply discounts or promotions based on the total order value or the user's membership status.

3. Fitness Tracker: A fitness tracker app uses conditional statements to determine whether the user has reached their daily step goal or calorie burn target, and provides appropriate feedback or encouragement.

4. Voting System: A voting system uses conditional statements to check the voter's eligibility, ensure they haven't already voted, and record their vote correctly based on the selected candidate.

Conditional statements are a fundamental building block of programming, allowing programs to make dynamic decisions and adapt to different scenarios. By understanding and mastering the use of conditional statements, programmers can create more sophisticated and versatile applications that can better serve the needs of users.