What is the purpose of the else statement?

The else statement in programming is used to define a block of code that will execute when the condition in the preceding if (or else if) statement is false. It serves as a fallback option, allowing you to handle cases that do not meet the specified conditions.

Purpose of the else Statement:

1. Default Action: It provides a default action when none of the previous conditions are met.
2. Control Flow: It helps in controlling the flow of the program by specifying what should happen in alternative scenarios.

Example:

In the context of the previous example:

if (score >= 90) {
    printf("Grade: A\n");
} else if (score >= 80) {
    printf("Grade: B\n");
} else {
    printf("Grade: C\n"); // Executes if score is below 80
}

• If score is less than 80, the else block executes, printing "Grade: C". This ensures that all possible score ranges are accounted for.

Summary

The else statement enhances decision-making in your code by providing a clear path for cases that do not meet the specified conditions.