What Is a Conditional Statement?
A conditional statement is a feature in programming that performs different actions or computations depending on whether a specific boolean condition evaluates to true or false. It allows a program to have a dynamic flow of control, essentially enabling it to make decisions.
Section 2: Core Components
The most common conditional statements are the `if`, `else`, and `else if` (sometimes written as `elif`). The `if` statement executes a block of code only when its condition is true. The `else` statement provides an alternative block of code to execute when the `if` condition is false. The `else if` statement allows you to check for multiple different conditions in sequence.
Section 3: A Practical Example
Imagine you want to write a program that checks if a grade is passing. A passing grade is 60 or higher. You could use a conditional statement like this (in pseudocode): `grade = 75; IF grade >= 60 THEN PRINT "You passed!" ELSE PRINT "You need to study more."`. In this case, since 75 is greater than 60, the program would print "You passed!".
Section 4: Why Are Conditional Statements Important?
Conditional statements are the backbone of decision-making in software. Without them, a program could only follow a single, predefined sequence of instructions. Conditionals allow programs to respond to user input, handle errors, and adapt their behavior based on changing data, making them interactive and intelligent.