Java control flow statements (if-else, switch, loops)

Java, being a popular and versatile programming language, provides several control flow statements to control the execution flow of a program. In this article, we will explore three essential control flow statements in Java: if-else, switch, and loops.

if-else Statement


The if-else statement in Java allows you to execute a block of code based on a specific condition. Here’s an example:

int age = 25;

if(age >= 18) {
    System.out.println("You are eligible to vote.");
}
else {
    System.out.println("You are not eligible to vote.");
}

In the above code, the if condition checks if the age variable is greater than or equal to 18. If the condition is true, the code inside the curly braces will be executed. Otherwise, the code inside the else block will be executed.

switch Statement


The switch statement in Java allows you to perform different actions based on different values of a variable. Here’s an example:

int dayOfWeek = 3;
String dayName;

switch (dayOfWeek) {
    case 1:
        dayName = "Sunday";
        break;
    case 2:
        dayName = "Monday";
        break;
    case 3:
        dayName = "Tuesday";
        break;
    // handle other cases...
    default:
        dayName = "Invalid day";
        break;
}

System.out.println("Today is " + dayName);

In the above code, the value of dayOfWeek determines which case will be executed. If it matches a specific case, the corresponding code block will be executed. If none of the cases match, the code in the default block will be executed.

Loops


Loops are used to execute a block of code repeatedly until a specified condition is met. Java provides three types of loops: for, while, and do-while. Let’s look at each of these in detail.

for Loop

The for loop provides a concise way to iterate over a fixed number of times. Here’s an example:

for (int i = 1; i <= 5; i++) {
    System.out.println("Count: " + i);
}

In the above code, the loop will execute five times, printing the value of i each time.

while Loop

The while loop repeatedly executes a block of code as long as a specified condition is true. Here’s an example:

int count = 0;

while (count < 5) {
    System.out.println("Count: " + count);
    count++;
}

In the above code, the loop will continue executing as long as the count variable is less than 5.

do-while Loop

The do-while loop is similar to the while loop, but it ensures that the block of code is executed at least once, even if the condition is false. Here’s an example:

int number = 1;

do {
    System.out.println(number);
    number++;
} while (number <= 5);

In the above code, the loop will execute at least once, printing the value of number and incrementing it until it reaches 5.


These control flow statements are fundamental in Java programming and allow you to have greater control over the execution of your code. #JavaProgramming #ControlFlowStatements