Java Decision Making And Branching

“Decision making and branching” is one of the most important concepts of computer programming. Programs should be able to make logical (true/false) decisions based on the condition provided. So controlling the execution of statements based on certain condition or decision is called decision making and branching.

1.If Statements

The if statement is used to test the condition. It checks boolean conditions true or false. There are various types of if statements in Java.

• Simple if statement
• if-else statement
• if-else-if ladder
• nested if statement

i) Simple if Statement :

      The Java if statement tests the condition. It executes the *if block* if the condition is true. Where boolean_expression is a condition.

Syntax:

if(Boolean_expression) {
  // Statements will execute if the Boolean expression is true
}
Statement-X;

Example:

public class Branching {

  public static void main(String args[]) {
     int num = 10;

     if( num < 20 ) {
        System.out.print("Welcome to ShapeAI");
     }
  }
}
/*EXPLANATION:
hence num value 10 is less than 20, it executes the statement inside if block*/

/*OUTPUT:
Welcome to ShapeAI */

ii) if-else Statement :

The Java if-else statement also tests the condition. It executes the if block, if the condition is true otherwise else block, is executed.

Syntax:

if(Boolean_expression) {
  // Executes when the Boolean expression is true
}else {
  // Executes when the Boolean expression is false
}
Statement-X;

Example:

public class Branching {

  public static void main(String args[]) {
     int num = 30;

     if( num < 20 ) {
        System.out.print("This is if statement");
     }else {
        System.out.print("This is else statement");
     }
  }
}
/*EXPLANATION:
executes the else statement hence the num value 30 is greater than 20 */

/*OUTPUT
This is else statement */

iii) if-else-if ladder Statement :

The if-else-if ladder statement executes one condition from multiple statements.

Syntax:

if(Boolean_expression 1) {
  // Executes when the Boolean expression 1 is true
}else if(Boolean_expression 2) {
  // Executes when the Boolean expression 2 is true
}else if(Boolean_expression 3) {
  // Executes when the Boolean expression 3 is true
}else {
  // Executes when the none of the above condition is true.
}
Statement-X;

Example:

public class Branching{

   public static void main(String args[]) {
       int num = 30;

       if (num == 10) {
           System.out.print("Value of num is 10");
       } else if (num == 20) {
           System.out.print("Value of num is 20");
       } else if (num == 30) {
           System.out.print("Value of num is 30");
       } else {
           System.out.print("This is else statement");
       }
   }
}

/*EXPLANATION:
executes the second else if block hence the num value 30 is equal to 30 */

/* OUTPUT
Value of X is 30 */

iv) nested if statement :

         The nested if statement represents the if block within another if block. Here, the inner if block condition executes only when the outer if block condition is

Syntax:

switch(expression) {
  case value :
     // Statements
     break;

  case value :
     // Statements
     break;

  // You can have any number of case statements.
  default : // Optional
     // Statements
}
Statement-X;

Example:

public class Switching {

  public static void main(String args[]) {

     char grade = 'C';

     switch(grade) {
        case 'A' :
           System.out.println("Excellent!");
           break;
        case 'B' :
           System.out.println("Good");
           break;
        case 'C' :
           System.out.println("Well done");
           break;
        default :
           System.out.println("Invalid grade");
     }
     System.out.println("Your grade is " + grade);
  }
}

/*EXPLANATION:
The given expression grade is assigned with 'C'. hence it matches with the case 'C'.
So case 'C' statement "Well done" is executed*/

/*OUTPUT:

Well done
Your grade is C */