I am always in the habit of using if, else-if statement instead of multiple if statements. Example: <pre class="prettyprint"><code>int val = -1; if (a == b1) { return c1; } else if (a == b2) { return c2; } ... ... } else { return c11; } </code></pre> How does it compare to example 2: <pre class="prettyprint"><code>if (a == b1) { return c1; } if (a == b2) { return c2; } .... if (a == b11) { return c11; } </code></pre> I know functionality wise they are the same. But is it best practice to do if else-if, or not? It's raised by one of my friends when I pointed out he could structure the code base differently to make it cleaner. It's already a habit for me for long but I have never asked why.

<code>if-elseif-else</code> statements stop doing comparisons as soon as it finds one that's true. <code>if-if-if</code> does every comparison. The first is more efficient. Edit: It's been pointed out in comments that you do a <code>return</code> within each <code>if</code> block. In these cases, or in cases where control will leave the method (exceptions), there is no difference between doing multiple <code>if</code> statements and doing <code>if-elseif-else</code> statements. However, it's best practice to use <code>if-elseif-else</code> anyhow. Suppose you change your code such that you don't do a <code>return</code> in every <code>if</code> block. Then, to remain efficient, you'd also have to change to an <code>if-elseif-else</code> idiom. Having it be <code>if-elseif-else</code> from the beginning saves you edits in the future, and is clearer to people reading your code (witness the misinterpretation I just gave you by doing a skim-over of your code!).

Why we use if, else if instead of multiple if block if the body is a return statement

Q: What is the benefit of using if followed by ELSE if statements rather than only using if statements?

The main reason to use else if is to avoid excessive indentation. Of course both of the pieces of code above are equivalent (which means it's impossible for the latter to be mandatory other than in style guides).

Q: What is the difference between the IF block and the if else block?

In if, the statements inside the if block will execute, if the condition is true and the control is passed to the next statement after the if block. In the if else, if the condition is true, the statements inside the if block will execute and if the condition is false the statements in the if else block will execute.

I am always in the habit of using if, else-if statement instead of multiple if statements.

Example:

int val = -1; if (a == b1) {    return c1; } else if (a == b2) {    return c2; } ... ... } else {    return c11; }

How does it compare to example 2:

if (a == b1) {    return c1; } if (a == b2) {    return c2; } ....  if (a == b11) {    return c11; }

I know functionality wise they are the same. But is it best practice to do if else-if, or not? It's raised by one of my friends when I pointed out he could structure the code base differently to make it cleaner. It's already a habit for me for long but I have never asked why.

Why use else if instead of multiple if?

Summary: By using an ELSE IF structure instead of multiple IF we can avoid “combined conditions” ( x<y && y<z ). Instead we can use a simplified condition (y<z). Furthermore ELSE IF is more efficient because the computer only has to check conditions until it finds a condition that returns the value TRUE.

What is the benefit of using if followed by ELSE if statements rather than only using if statements?

The main reason to use else if is to avoid excessive indentation. Of course both of the pieces of code above are equivalent (which means it's impossible for the latter to be mandatory other than in style guides).

What is the difference between the IF block and the if else block?

In if, the statements inside the if block will execute, if the condition is true and the control is passed to the next statement after the if block. In the if else, if the condition is true, the statements inside the if block will execute and if the condition is false the statements in the if else block will execute.

if-elseif-else statements stop doing comparisons as soon as it finds one that's true. if-if-if does every comparison. The first is more efficient.

Edit: It's been pointed out in comments that you do a return within each if block. In these cases, or in cases where control will leave the method (exceptions), there is no difference between doing multiple if statements and doing if-elseif-else statements.

However, it's best practice to use if-elseif-else anyhow. Suppose you change your code such that you don't do a return in every if block. Then, to remain efficient, you'd also have to change to an if-elseif-else idiom. Having it be if-elseif-else from the beginning saves you edits in the future, and is clearer to people reading your code (witness the misinterpretation I just gave you by doing a skim-over of your code!).

Why we use if, else if instead of multiple if block if the body is a return statement

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Why we use if, else if instead of multiple if block if the body is a return statement

Tags:

java

c++

Lily

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CanSpice

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