if/else and switch select between paths of execution.
Conditional statements (if, else if, switch/match) choose which code runs. Conditions evaluate to true or false. Nested and guard clauses keep code readable; avoid deeply nested conditionals. Ternary expressions are compact conditional values.
if temperature > 100: alarm() else: continue.
Control flow chooses which code runs, which is how programs react to input, errors and states.
if/else and switch select between paths of execution.
Control flow chooses which code runs, which is how programs react to input, errors and states.
An if chain tests conditions in order, while a switch selects one branch by matching a value, which is clearer for many fixed options.
They are hard to read and test, so early returns or guard clauses often make the logic clearer.
Typical applications include choosing a message based on the temperature reading, routing a user request to the correct handler with a switch and stopping a motor when a limit switch is pressed.
Study "Operators and expressions" first (topic 4 of 104 in Software & Computing). It covers the groundwork this topic builds on.
Boolean logic. Early return. Exhaustive cases.
if temperature > 100: alarm() else: continue.
The next topic is "Loops", which builds directly on this one.
It is classed as Beginner in Software & Computing (topic 5 of 104). It is an entry-level topic. It relies only on basic school mathematics and the ideas introduced earlier in this discipline.
Want to practise? Open the interactive course for quick checks, quizzes, simulations and progress tracking.