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What are the decision making statements in Java?

  • Writer: Aanya Verma
    Aanya Verma
  • Feb 15, 2023
  • 4 min read

Did you know?


Coding has over 700 languages in its kitty!


Though, becoming a geek in all these languages is not possible! Acing only a few of it can also help you stand tall in the league of advanced programmers.


In all the programming languages, java plays a crucial role in the life of a programmer! The beauty of this language is that you can learn and implement a variety of concepts.


One such concept is; decision making statements in Java!


From executing the codes to getting the next block of codes, you need to take part in a variety of decisions in Java. So, it would be essential to learn this crucial concept.


Without any ado, let’s get started!


What do you know about decision making statements?


Decision making statements play a crucial role in a variety of java concepts. It is an essential aspect of learning this language. This language allows a programmer to choose from the multiple executive paths which are based on the outcomes of any expression.


For the beginner programmers, decision making would be the first milestone that they have to consider or achieve in their learning of programming languages.


Decision making statements in java is generally categorised in the below-mentioned factors:


  • The selective statements which allows you to choose from the different execution paths

  • Then there will be jump statement which enables a programmer to execute the functions in a nonlinear fashion


The selection statements in Java


In java there are basically two types of the selection statements which are if or switch. All these statements will allow the users to regulate the execution of a program and its flow.

Let’s know about these statements in detail:


If and else statements


These statements are defined as the conditional branch statements in java. The statements are well-known to be used in the execution of different route programs.


The general form in this case would be:


If [ condition] {


1 statement;


}


Else{


2 statement;


}



Condition here is an expression having a boolean value. Though, else cause can be optional or each of the statements can be the single one or the block of statements.


Nested if-else statement


Any if-else statement in the other if-else statement is defined as a nested-if. Here, the main thing would be to know about the nested if statement. Here, you have to find the nearest statement within your same block.


If-else-if ladder


This statement is helpful in doing common programming to construct all that are being based on the series of the related nested ifs present with the conditions.


Here the ladder will look like;


If [ condition]


Statement;


Else if [ condition]


Statement;


.


.


.


Else statement;


The ladder will be executed from top to the bottom. As any condition can become true in this case, programs would execute the statements which are associated with it. If no condition is executed, the final statement would be executed.


Switch Case


The branch statement in the java would be known as the switch statement. These switch statements will make it simple for the users to redirect its execution in the different parts of the code which depends on the value of your expressions.


Using the switch statement, it will be an ideal option for the long series statements to get the desired code you want. The essential points in regard to switch statements would be:


  • Expression can be of any type of byte or char only

  • Enumeration can also be used in controlling the switch statements

  • The values offered in this case should be compatible with the switch expressions

  • The case values need to be constant

  • Duplicate values in this case are not allowed


In the switch case, expressions are compared with the literal values of the case clause inside of the switch block. If any match is found, the code will be executed. However, in this case, default can be optional.


Nested Switch Statements


A switch can be used inside the case statement too. This is known as a nested switch. Since the switch statement will create its block, there will be no conflict in between both the statements.


The statements of the inner switch will not conflict with the statements of the outer switch. The value of the count variable will be compared with the value of the outer switch.


This is quite an interesting point to note regarding the switch statements as you can get a clear insight on how the compiler works. The compiler builds the jump table with each case while taking the switch statements into consideration. This table will determine if the execution path is based on the value of expressions.


Jump statements


Java is capable of supporting the jump statements too which forms a crucial part of the programming language. Break, continue or return are three kinds of jump statements that are quite useful in java.


The break statement breaks the majority part of terminating the sequences in the switch statement while exiting from the required loop. This will also be used in the civilised form.


Then you can also make use of the continue statement in order to check iteration of all the loops. This might happen when you want to let your loop run at the continuity but will stop processing while the remainder of the code in the body.


While in the return loop statement, you

will get explicitly returned from the loop in the method. This may cause the program control to transfer back the caller methods in this case.


Is java platform independent or not?


Another crucial question that every programmer asks at some point is; Is java platform independent or not?


Yes, java language is defined as the platform independent as it uses the virtual machine code. All the APIs here are compiled inside the byte codes which are also platform independent for all the users.


Wrapping Up


Decision making statements are the crucial part of the java platform. Learn about the technicalities involved in decision making statements and implement your decisions in the righteous way.


Happy programming!


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