In the case of decision control statements in C language (nested if and if-else), a group of available statements will get executed in case the conditions we have are true. The execution of the else part statements won’t occur whenever these available conditions happen to be false.
The decision-making statements would require that the programmer handling the program provides the program with the specification of single or multiple conditions that the program gets to test or evaluate. It also needs to specify a statement or various other statements that will get executed in case the determined condition is false.
In this article, we will take a closer look at the Decision Control Statement in C according to the GATE Syllabus for CSE (Computer Science Engineering). Read ahead to know more.
Table of Contents
- Use Of Decision Control Statement In C
- Types Of Decision Control Statement In C
- Summary Of Decision Control Statement In C
- The If Statement In C Language
- The If-Else Statement In C Language
- The Nested If Statement In C Language
- Practice Problems On Decision Control Statement In C
- FAQs
Use of Decision Control Statement in C
In a programming language, we must perform various tasks based on the conditions available to us. For instance, let us consider an online website. Whenever someone enters the wrong password or ID, it will display an error page, while if they enter the correct credentials, then the website will display them a welcome page. Thus, there might be some type of logic here that checks the available conditions (password and ID). If the conditions return to be true, then it will perform the assigned task (in this case, displaying the welcome page). Or else, it will perform a very different task (in this place, displaying the error page).
When we use the decision control statements, we get to control the flow of any program with us in such a way that it gets to execute some statements on the basis of an available condition’s outcome (the condition can be both true or false).
Types of Decision Control Statement in C
We have three major types of decision control statements that we use in the C programming language. These are:
- nested if statements
- if-else statements
- if statements
Summary of Decision Control Statement in C
In the table available below, we have the syntax for every decision control statement in C language, along with its description:
| Type of Decision Control Statements in C | Syntax | Description |
| if | The Syntax is:
if (condition x) { Statements; } |
The Description is:
In the case of such a statement, when the available condition is true, there occurs an execution of a certain block of code. |
| if…else | The Syntax is:
if (condition x) { Statement x; Statement y; } else { Statement a; Statement b; } |
The Description is:
In the case of such a statement, when the available condition is true, then there occurs an execution of a certain group of statements. In case this available condition turns out to be false, there occurs an execution of the statement specified in the else part. |
| nested if | The Syntax is:
if (condition x){ Statement x; } else_if(condition y) { Statement y; } else Statement Z; |
The Description is:
When the condition x is true, we get a resultant statement x. When it is false, then the program automatically checks for the condition y. When condition y is true, there occurs an execution of the statement y. When the condition y also fails, then the final execution of the else part occurs. |
The if Statement in C Language
The execution of the statements available inside an if block will only happen when the condition defined by this statement turns out to be true. In case the available condition is false, the compiler will skip the available statement that gets enclosed in the body of the if statement. One can have as many numbers of if statements in a program (in C language) as we want.
Syntax:
The Syntax available for the if statement will be:
if (condition x)
{
// A block of statements for the C program
// The execution of these statements will only happen when this condition turns to be true
}
There will be an execution of the statements available inside the body of the if block whenever the given condition returns to be true. In case this condition returns to be false, then the program will skip the statements that we have inside the if block.
Use:
This statement is one of the very simplest forms of decision control statements. We often use it in the cases of simple decision-making cases in the C language.
Example:
Let us look at an example of a program that will ultimately print the highest number.
#include <stdio.h>
void main()
{
int x;
printf(“We enter any number:”);
scanf(“%d”, &x);
printf (“The number entered here is %d”, x);
if (x>100)
printf (“Hi. You have entered a comparatively higher number.”);
}
Here, in this program, the compiler will accept a number provided by the user as an input and will generate an output accordingly. Here, we have also given the expression n>100. It means that if the number given by the user is higher than the value of 100, then only we will get the message as the output. Else, this statement will be skipped once and for all.
Thus,
Case #1:
If x = 300,
The output generated here will be:
Hi. You have entered a comparatively higher number.
Case #2:
If x = 50,
The compiler will skip the statement, “Hi. You have entered a comparatively higher number. ”
The if-else Statement in C Language
We have two blocks of statements in the case of this type of decision control statement- one if the available condition is true and another one when this condition is false. When the statement available in the if body results to be true, then the statement inside that block will surely execute. In case it is false, then there will be an execution of the statement inside the else block. It means that the else statement cannot exist in a program if there is no if statement.
Syntax:
The syntax available for the if-else statement will be:
if (condition x)
{
// The statements present inside the body of if
}
else {
// The statements present inside the body of else
}
When the statement present in the if condition returns true, then the program will execute the statement that is present inside the body of this block. Here, the compiler will skip the statement that is present inside the body if the else block.
Conversely, when the condition present inside the if block is false, then the compiler will skip the block and will execute the statement present in the else block.
Use:
Various times when a user writes that if a condition/ expression is true, then the compiler must take an action. Else, if that statement is false, then the compiler will take a different action. Thus, we can include an action for either of the conditions or include just a single statement for the true condition and no action for any other condition. We use the if-else statement here.
Example:
Let us look at an example of a program that we use in case of a leap year.
#include <stdio.h>
void main()
{
int year;
clrscr();
printf(“We will enter a year here:”);
scanf(“%d”, &yr);
if ((year%4 == 0) && ((year%100 !=0) || (year%400==0)))
printf(“Yes. The provided year is a leap year. Great job…!!!!”);
else
printf (“No. The provided year is not a leap year. Try again….!!!”);
}
Case #1:
year = 1893
The output generated here will be:
We enter a year: 1893
No. The provided year is not a leap year….!!!
Case #2:
year = 1564
The output generated here will be:
We enter a year: 1564
Yes. The provided year is a leap year. Great job…!!!!
The nested if Statement in C Language
The nested if statement is fairly useful in case a user needs to evaluate multiple types of conditions. Here, the if block is present to define a condition (or an expression). The resultant statement will get executed on the basis of the result of this expression (when the condition is true or false).
Syntax:
The syntax available for the nested if statement will be:
{
if (condition x)
{ Statement x; }
// The C Statement for this condition
else_if(condition y)
// The C Statement for this condition
{ Statement y; }
else
Statement z;
default:
// The C Statement for this default condition
;
}
When the condition available in the if block is true, there will be an execution of the provided statement. When it is false, the program will check the next condition. If it is true, the execution of the statement associated with this condition will occur. In case this one is also false, then there will be a default execution of a final statement. Here, we may have as many types of cases as possible. However, there must be just one type of default statement.
Example:
Let us look at an example of a program that we use for finding out about two variables that might be greater than or smaller than each other.
Case #1:
#include <stdio.h>
int main()
{
int a=40,b=20;
if (a>b) {
printf(“The number a is greater than the number b”);
}
else if(a<n) {
printf(“The number a is less than the number b”);
}
else {
printf(“The number a is equal to the number b”);
}
}
The output generated here would be:
The number a is greater than the number b
Case #2:
#include <stdio.h>
int main()
{
int a=20,b=40;
if (a>b) {
printf(“The number a is greater than the number b”);
}
else if(a<n) {
printf(“The number a is less than the number b”);
}
else {
printf(“The number a is equal to the number b”);
}
}
The output generated here would be:
The number a is less than the number b
Case #3:
#include <stdio.h>
int main()
{
int a=30,b=30;
if (a>b) {
printf(“The number a is greater than the number b”);
}
else if(a<n) {
printf(“The number a is less than the number b”);
}
else {
printf(“The number a is equal to the number b”);
}
}
The output generated here would be:
The number a is equal to the number b
Practice Problems on Decision Control Statement in C
1. Take a look at the following program:
int main()
{
int p=50, q=50;
if (p == q)
{
printf(“The number p and the number q are equal.”);
}
}
Output:
The number p and the number q are equal.
Is the output:
A. True
B. False
C. Both. It depends.
Answer – A. True
2. What would be the output of the following program?
#include <stdio.h>
int main()
{
int p=80, q=120;
if (p>q) {
printf(“The number p is greater than the number q”);
}
else if(p<n) {
printf(“The number p is less than the number q”);
}
else {
printf(“The number p is equal to the number q”);
}
}
A. The number p is greater than the number q
B. The number p is less than the number q
C. The number p is equal to the number q
D. Compile time error
Answer – B. The number p is less than the number q
3. Take a look at the following program:
#include <stdio.h>
int main()
{
int age;
printf(“Please enter your age here:”);
scanf(“%d”,&age);
if(age >=18)
{
printf(“Okay. You are not eligible for voting today.”);
}
else
{
printf(“Sorry. You are still not eligible for voting today.”);
}
return 0;
}
Look at the pair of inputs and outputs. Which of these are true?
1. Please enter your age here: 12
Sorry. You are still not eligible for voting today.
2. Please enter your age here: 22
Okay. You are not eligible for voting today.
3. Please enter your age here: 35
Okay. You are not eligible for voting today.
4. Please enter your age here: 09
Sorry. You are still not eligible for voting today.
A. 1, 2, and 3
B. 3, 4
C. 1, 2, and 4
D. 1, 2, 3, and 4
Answer – D. 1, 2, 3, and 4
FAQs
What is the difference between the if statement and the if-else statement?
The if statement is one of the very simplest forms of decision control statements. We often use it in the cases of simple decision-making cases in the C language.
Syntax:
if (condition x)
{ Statements; }
The Description is:
In the case of such a statement, when the available condition is true, there occurs an execution of a certain block of code.
if…else
Various times when a user writes that if a condition/ expression is true, then the compiler must take an action. Else, if that statement is false, then the compiler will take a different action. Thus, we can include an action for either of the conditions or include just a single statement for the true condition and no action for any other condition. We use the if-else statement here.
Syntax:
if (condition x)
{ Statement x; Statement y; }
else
{ Statement a; Statement b; }
The Description is:
In the case of such a statement, when the available condition is true, then there occurs an execution of a certain group of statements. In case this available condition turns out to be false, there occurs an execution of the statement specified in the else part.
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