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Conditional Statements in C++: if , if..else, if-else-if and nested if

Conditional Statements in C++: if , if..else, if-else-if and nested if

21 May 2024
Beginner
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14 min read
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Conditional Statements in C++: An Overview

The flow of a program is managed using conditional statements in C++. If a condition is true inside the ifstatement, the body of the statement executes. If false, elseis used to specify an alternate course of action. You can check several criteria sequentially using the else-ifstatement and learn C++ from scratch. For multi-way branching based on the result of an expression, use the switch statement. You can also check our C++ Certification Course for in-depth knowledge of C++.

Conditional Statements in C++ programming?

In C++, conditional statements are control structures that let code make decisions. These statements are also known as decision-making statements. They are of the type if statement, if-else, if else-if ladder, switch, etc. These statements determine the flow of the program execution.

Types of Conditional Statements in C++

In this article, we'll discuss the first kind of conditional statement i.e. if...else statements in C++. We'll discuss the switch statement in the next tutorial switch statement in C++.

if … else statements

if-else is the first kind of control statement in C++. In this, the operations are performed according to some specified condition. The statements inside the body of the if block get executed if and only if the given condition is true.

Read More - Advanced C++ Interview Interview Questions and Answers

Variants of if-else statements in C++

We have four variants of if-else statements in C++. They are:

  1. if statement in C++
  2. if-else statement in C++
  3. if else-if ladder in C++
  4. nested if statement in C++

  1. if statement in C++

if statements in C++ are one of the most simple statements for deciding in a program. When you want to print any code only upon the satisfaction of a given condition, go with the simple if statement.

if statement in C++

Syntax

if(testcondition)
{
 // Statements to execute if
 // condition is true
}

  • In the if statement, the test condition is in ().
  • If the testcondition becomes true, the body of the if block executes else no statement of the if block gets printed.

Example

// C++ program to understand if statement
#include <iostream>
using namespace std;
int main()
{
 int i = 11;
 if (i > 15)
 {
 cout << "11 is greater than 15";
 }
 cout << "I am Not in if";
 return 0;
}

This C++ code in C++ Compiler initializes the integer ito 11 and then checks to see if it is greater than 15 using an ifstatement. It outputs "I am Not in if" to the console because 11 is not greater than 15.

Output

I am Not in if 

  1. if-else statement in C++

It is an extension of the if statement. Here, there is an if block and an else block. When one wants to print output for both cases - true and false, use the if-else statement.

if-else statement in C++

Syntax

if (testcondition)
{
 // Executes this block if
 // condition is true
}
else
{
 // Executes this block if
 // condition is false
}

Example

// C++ program to understand the if-else statement
#include <iostream>
using namespace std;
int main()
{
 int A = 16;
 if (A < 15)
 cout << "A is smaller than 15";
 else
 cout << "A is greater than 15";
 return 0;
}

This C++ program initializes the integer variable Ato 16 and then checks to see if it is less than 15 using the if-elsestatement. It outputs "A is greater than 15" to the console because it isn't.

Output

A is greater than 15

  1. nested if statement in C++

We can include an if-else block in the body of another if-else block. This becomes a nested if-else statement.

nested if statement in C++

Syntax

if(test condition1)
{ //if condition1 becomes true
 if(test condition1.1)
 {
 //code executes if both condition1 and condition 1.1 becomes true
 }
 else
 {
 //code executes if condition1 is true but condition 1.1 is false
 }
}
else
{
 //code executes if condition1 becomes false
}

Example

// C++ program to understand nested-if statement
#include <iostream>
using namespace std;
int main() {
 int a = 10;
 int b = 5;
 if (a > b) {
 // Control goes to the nested if
 if (a % 2 == 0) {
 cout << a << " is even";
 }
 else {
 cout << a << " is odd";
 }
 }
 else {
 cout << a << " is not greater than " << b;
 }
 return 0;
}

  • In the above code in C++ Editor, the first if statement checks whether a>b.
  • If a is greater than b, the nested if statement is checked.
  • If the nested if condition is false, the else statement in the nested if block gets executed.
  • If the first if statement evaluates to false, the nested if block gets skipped and the else block executes.

Output

10 is even

  1. if else-if ladder in C++

It is an extension of the if-else statement. If we want to check multiple conditions if the first ifcondition becomes false, use the if else-if ladder. If all the if conditions become false the else block gets executed.

if else if ladder in c++

Syntax

if (testcondition1)
 statement;
else if (testcondition2)
 statement;
.
.
else
 statement;

Example

// C++ program to understand if-else-if ladder
#include <iostream>
using namespace std;
int main()
{
 int A = 20;
 if (A == 10)
 cout << "A is 10";
 else if (A == 15)
 cout << "A is 15";
 else if (A == 20)
 cout << "A is 20";
 else
 cout << "A is not present";
 return 0;
}

Theif else-ifladder is shown in this section of C++ code. It sequentially compares the value of Ato several conditions. It outputs "A is 20"as the condition matched and comes out of the ladder.

Output

A is 20
Summary

This article gives a vast idea about if-else conditional statement in C++ language, including its various types with syntax and examples. If you've understood everything we went over in this blog post, congratulations! Now you can check out for a C++ certificationto get some more insights and practice on such an important programming concept.

FAQs

  • Incorrect logic: Double-check your conditions for errors and ensure they accurately represent your desired behavior.
  • Missing braces: Braces are crucial for defining the code block associated with each condition.
  • Infinite loops: Be cautious with conditions that might never become false, leading to an endless loop.
  • Dangling else: Ensure an else statement belongs to the correct if condition.

The switch statement is useful when you have multiple conditions that check for different values of the same variable. It allows for more efficient comparisons and clearer code organization compared to nested if statements for multiple values.


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About Author
Shailendra Chauhan (Microsoft MVP, Founder & CEO at Scholarhat by DotNetTricks)

Shailendra Chauhan, Founder and CEO of ScholarHat by DotNetTricks, is a renowned expert in System Design, Software Architecture, Azure Cloud, .NET, Angular, React, Node.js, Microservices, DevOps, and Cross-Platform Mobile App Development. His skill set extends into emerging fields like Data Science, Python, Azure AI/ML, and Generative AI, making him a well-rounded expert who bridges traditional development frameworks with cutting-edge advancements. Recognized as a Microsoft Most Valuable Professional (MVP) for an impressive 9 consecutive years (2016–2024), he has consistently demonstrated excellence in delivering impactful solutions and inspiring learners.

Shailendra’s unique, hands-on training programs and bestselling books have empowered thousands of professionals to excel in their careers and crack tough interviews. A visionary leader, he continues to revolutionize technology education with his innovative approach.
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