Theoretical Insights

Conditionals and if Statements: Making Decisions in C++

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Real programs respond to situations: a value might be inside a valid range, a file might exist, a counter might have reached a limit. To react, code must branch—follow one path when a requirement holds and a different path when it doesn’t. The simplest way to create such a branch in C++ is the if statement. At runtime, the program evaluates a condition; if it’s true, the associated block runs; otherwise, execution skips past it (or takes an else path). This “choose-a-path” mechanism is the backbone of control flow in every non-trivial program.

A first if statement

int main() {
    int x = 7;

    if (x >= 0) {
        // This block runs only when x is non-negative.
        // For example, we might record that x passed a check.
    }

    return 0;
}

If the condition x >= 0 holds, the statements inside { ... } execute; otherwise they’re skipped.
Always use braces for if blocks, even for a single statement—this avoids common mistakes when code grows.

What is a condition?

A condition is any expression inside if ( /* here */ ) that is evaluated and then converted to a boolean value:

  • true → take the if branch
  • false → skip it

Comparisons (like x >= 0) already produce a boolean. C++ also allows non-boolean expressions to be converted:

  • For integers, 0 converts to false; any non-zero value converts to true.

Prefer explicit comparisons when starting out—they read clearly.

int n = 5;

if (n != 0) {   // clearer than: if (n)
    // executes because 5 is non-zero
}

Overview of numeric comparison operators

Each of these compares two numbers and yields a boolean:

  • < — less than
  • > — greater than
  • <= — less than or equal
  • >= — greater than or equal
  • == — equal to (comparison, not assignment)

Examples:

int a = 7, b = 10;

bool r1 = (a < b);   // true
bool r2 = (a >= b);  // false
bool r3 = (a == 7);  // true

Common pitfall: = assigns, == compares.
if (a = 7) assigns 7 to a, then tests the (non-zero) result → the condition is true. That’s almost always a bug.

Quick note on floating-point: equality (==) can be unreliable due to rounding. We will revisit robust comparisons later. For now, prefer integers in examples or use <, <=, etc.

Adding an else branch

Often you want an alternative when the condition is false. Computing an absolute value is a good example:

int main() {
    int x = -12;
    int abs_x;

    if (x >= 0) {
        abs_x = x;
    } else {
        abs_x = -x;
    }
    // After this, abs_x == 12

    return 0;
}

The logical NOT operator !

The operator! flips a boolean value. It also negates conditions:

bool ready = false;

if (!ready) {
    // executes because !false is true
}

int y = -3;
if (!(y >= 0)) {   // equivalent to: if (y < 0)
    // executes because y is negative
}

Style tip: prefer direct, positive conditions when possible (y < 0 instead of !(y >= 0)).

Putting it together

Below, a simple “gate” sets a status code based on a threshold:

int main() {
    int value = 42;
    int threshold = 50;
    int status;           // 1 = too small, 2 = ok or higher

    if (value < threshold) {
        status = 1;       // value did not meet the threshold
    } else {
        status = 2;       // value met or exceeded the threshold
    }

    bool failed_check = !(value >= threshold); 
    // true when value < threshold

    // After execution:
    // - status == 1
    // - failed_check == true

    return 0;
}

Key takeaways

  • if (condition) { ... } creates a branch: the block runs only when the condition is true.
  • Comparisons <, >, <=, >=, == return booleans and are the most common conditions.
  • ! negates a boolean or condition.
  • Prefer clear, direct conditions and remember: == compares, = assigns.

Next, we’ll combine conditions with logical AND/OR (&&, ||) and build multi-branch decisions with else if—the building blocks for readable, robust control flow.

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