C++ Control Flow (if, switch) Tutorial

1. The if Statement

Use the if statement to execute code conditionally:

#include <iostream>
using namespace std;

int main() {
    int number = 10;

    if (number > 5) {
        cout << "Number is greater than 5." << endl;
    } else {
        cout << "Number is 5 or less." << endl;
    }
    return 0;
}
                

In this example, the program checks if number is greater than 5 and outputs the corresponding message.

2. The switch Statement

The switch statement executes code blocks based on specific case values:

#include <iostream>
using namespace std;

int main() {
    int choice = 2;

    switch (choice) {
        case 1:
            cout << "You selected option 1." << endl;
            break;
        case 2:
            cout << "You selected option 2." << endl;
            break;
        default:
            cout << "Invalid selection." << endl;
    }
    return 0;
}
                

In this example, the program executes code based on the value of choice.

3. Nested and Combined Statements

You can combine and nest if and switch statements for more complex conditions:

if (condition1) {
    if (condition2) {
        // Nested if
    } else {
        // Else block
    }
}

switch (variable) {
    case 1:
        if (condition3) {
            // Combined with if
        }
        break;
}
                

Be careful to maintain readability when nesting and combining statements.

4. Best Practices

• Use if for general conditions and switch for fixed values.
• Always include a default case in a switch for unexpected values.
• Maintain proper indentation for readability.

5. Next Steps

Explore loops and functions to add more functionality to your C++ programs!