conditional assignment statement in java

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In programming, we use the if..else statement to run a block of code among more than one alternatives.

For example, assigning grades (A, B, C) based on the percentage obtained by a student.

• if the percentage is above 90 , assign grade A
• if the percentage is above 75 , assign grade B
• if the percentage is above 65 , assign grade C

1. Java if (if-then) Statement

The syntax of an if-then statement is:

Here, condition is a boolean expression such as age >= 18 .

• if condition evaluates to true , statements are executed
• if condition evaluates to false , statements are skipped

Working of if Statement

Example 1: Java if Statement

In the program, number < 0 is false . Hence, the code inside the body of the if statement is skipped .

Note: If you want to learn more about about test conditions, visit Java Relational Operators and Java Logical Operators .

We can also use Java Strings as the test condition.

Example 2: Java if with String

In the above example, we are comparing two strings in the if block.

2. Java if...else (if-then-else) Statement

The if statement executes a certain section of code if the test expression is evaluated to true . However, if the test expression is evaluated to false , it does nothing.

In this case, we can use an optional else block. Statements inside the body of else block are executed if the test expression is evaluated to false . This is known as the if-...else statement in Java.

The syntax of the if...else statement is:

Here, the program will do one task (codes inside if block) if the condition is true and another task (codes inside else block) if the condition is false .

How the if...else statement works?

Example 3: Java if...else Statement

In the above example, we have a variable named number . Here, the test expression number > 0 checks if number is greater than 0.

Since the value of the number is 10 , the test expression evaluates to true . Hence code inside the body of if is executed.

Now, change the value of the number to a negative integer. Let's say -5 .

If we run the program with the new value of number , the output will be:

Here, the value of number is -5 . So the test expression evaluates to false . Hence code inside the body of else is executed.

3. Java if...else...if Statement

In Java, we have an if...else...if ladder, that can be used to execute one block of code among multiple other blocks.

Here, if statements are executed from the top towards the bottom. When the test condition is true , codes inside the body of that if block is executed. And, program control jumps outside the if...else...if ladder.

If all test expressions are false , codes inside the body of else are executed.

How the if...else...if ladder works?

Example 4: Java if...else...if Statement

In the above example, we are checking whether number is positive, negative, or zero . Here, we have two condition expressions:

• number > 0 - checks if number is greater than 0
• number < 0 - checks if number is less than 0

Here, the value of number is 0 . So both the conditions evaluate to false . Hence the statement inside the body of else is executed.

Note : Java provides a special operator called ternary operator , which is a kind of shorthand notation of if...else...if statement. To learn about the ternary operator, visit Java Ternary Operator .

4. Java Nested if..else Statement

In Java, it is also possible to use if..else statements inside an if...else statement. It's called the nested if...else statement.

Here's a program to find the largest of 3 numbers using the nested if...else statement.

Example 5: Nested if...else Statement

In the above programs, we have assigned the value of variables ourselves to make this easier.

However, in real-world applications, these values may come from user input data, log files, form submission, etc.

Table of Contents

• Introduction
• Java if (if-then) Statement
• Example: Java if Statement
• Java if...else (if-then-else) Statement
• Example: Java if else Statement
• Java if..else..if Statement
• Example: Java if..else..if Statement
• Java Nested if..else Statement

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You already know that Java supports the usual logical conditions from mathematics:

• Less than: a < b
• Less than or equal to: a <= b
• Greater than: a > b
• Greater than or equal to: a >= b
• Equal to a == b
• Not Equal to: a != b

You can use these conditions to perform different actions for different decisions.

Java has the following conditional statements:

• Use if to specify a block of code to be executed, if a specified condition is true
• Use else to specify a block of code to be executed, if the same condition is false
• Use else if to specify a new condition to test, if the first condition is false
• Use switch to specify many alternative blocks of code to be executed

The if Statement

Use the if statement to specify a block of Java code to be executed if a condition is true .

Note that if is in lowercase letters. Uppercase letters (If or IF) will generate an error.

In the example below, we test two values to find out if 20 is greater than 18. If the condition is true , print some text:

Try it Yourself »

We can also test variables:

Example explained

In the example above we use two variables, x and y , to test whether x is greater than y (using the > operator). As x is 20, and y is 18, and we know that 20 is greater than 18, we print to the screen that "x is greater than y".

Test Yourself With Exercises

Print "Hello World" if x is greater than y .

Start the Exercise

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Java control statements : an overview.

Conditional statements in Java are one of the significant parts of "Control Structure" in Java. Conditional statements are based on certain conditions and generate decisions accordingly. These statements are a bunch of codes that can be executed by "decision statements" which are crucial. In this Java tutorial , we'll learn them in detail. To get into more details, enroll in our Java Programming Course .

What are Conditional Statements in Java?

Conditional statements are one of the significant parts of "Control Structure" in Java. Conditional statements are based on certain conditions and generate decisions accordingly. These statements are a bunch of codes that can be executed by "decisions statements". These conditions have some specific "boolean expressions". The boolean expression of these conditional statements generates "Boolean Value" which could be either true or false.

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Types of Conditional Statements in Java

There are 4 types of conditional statements in Java discussed in this Beginner’s Guide to Java . They are if statements in Java, if else statements in Java, ladder statements or If Else If statements, and Switch statements. The types of conditional statements in Java will be discussed further.

1. If..statement in Java

• “If” is a statement execution that depends on certain conditions.
• These conditions only follow the "if" keyword.
• The "If" statement depends on the expression of a certain boolean and generates a Boolean Value.
• If the value is "True" then the execution will be done in the current block.
• But if the Value is "false", it will switch to the next statement.

Syntax of If..statement in Java

Java if else example in java online editor.

This Java code assigns the value 0.8 to the variable "a," and a "if" condition determines whether "a" is greater than 0. If accurate, it confirms that 0.8 is a positive number by printing "0.8 is a Positive Number!" to the console.

2. If..else statement in Java

• The if-else statement in Java is a particular control structure that depends on selecting the conditions of the chosen set of statements.
• The if-else program in Java depends on two types of conditions, which are "If" and "Else".
• If the expression generates the "true" value then it will execute the block "If" in the if-else program in the if else program in Java.
• But if the value is "False", it will execute the "Else" block which depends on the if-else condition.

Syntax of If..else statement in Java

If-else example in java.

This Java code gives the value -0.8 to the variable "a". It determines whether "a" is greater than 0 by using a "if-else" condition. If true, the console displays "0.8 is a Positive Number!"; if false, it displays "0.8 is a Negative Number!" to indicate that -0.8 is a negative number.

3. If else...if statement in Java

• This control structure statement depends on a series of tests to evaluate the solution
• It is generated by the multiple uses of the "If Else" statement.
• If the one condition meets the result then the first ladder will be executed.
• But if the condition does not meet the results then the default "Else" statement will be executed.

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Syntax of If else...if statement in Java

With the help of this Java program, you can figure out a student's percentage, give them a grade based on predetermined ranges, and print out both the % and the grade. In this instance, the "nested_if_else_condition" class, which assesses student performance, would output the percentage and grade based on the 382 total marks.

4. Switch Statement in Java

• This statement has multiple phases of execution. Not only that In Java, access modifiers play a crucial role in controlling the visibility of variables, methods, and classes.
• Switch statements generally evaluate the result which is assisted by some "primitive type" of data or "class type" of data.
• This statement has a test series of conditions that can do one or more cases at a time by switching expressions.
• If the case meets the result then the statement will be executed.
• But if it does not meet the result then the "default" cases will be executed.

Syntax of Switch Statement in Java

The switch-case statement is used in this Java code demonstration in the Java Compiler . Because it matches the 'C' case, it examines the value of the character variable "a" and prints "Letter C," but the default case is not used.

If..else vs. Switch statements

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This article gives a vast idea of conditional statements and their types. Features of every conditional operator in Java with examples and syntax are explained. This article also includes the different types of conditional statements in Java and the difference between the If-else condition and the switch condition.

Q1. What are the 4 conditional statements in Java?

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The Java Tutorials have been written for JDK 8. Examples and practices described in this page don't take advantage of improvements introduced in later releases and might use technology no longer available. See Java Language Changes for a summary of updated language features in Java SE 9 and subsequent releases. See JDK Release Notes for information about new features, enhancements, and removed or deprecated options for all JDK releases.

Equality, Relational, and Conditional Operators

The equality and relational operators.

The equality and relational operators determine if one operand is greater than, less than, equal to, or not equal to another operand. The majority of these operators will probably look familiar to you as well. Keep in mind that you must use " == ", not " = ", when testing if two primitive values are equal.

The following program, ComparisonDemo , tests the comparison operators:

The Conditional Operators

The && and || operators perform Conditional-AND and Conditional-OR operations on two boolean expressions. These operators exhibit "short-circuiting" behavior, which means that the second operand is evaluated only if needed.

The following program, ConditionalDemo1 , tests these operators:

Another conditional operator is ?: , which can be thought of as shorthand for an if-then-else statement (discussed in the Control Flow Statements section of this lesson). This operator is also known as the ternary operator because it uses three operands. In the following example, this operator should be read as: "If someCondition is true , assign the value of value1 to result . Otherwise, assign the value of value2 to result ."

The following program, ConditionalDemo2 , tests the ?: operator:

Because someCondition is true, this program prints "1" to the screen. Use the ?: operator instead of an if-then-else statement if it makes your code more readable; for example, when the expressions are compact and without side-effects (such as assignments).

The Type Comparison Operator instanceof

The instanceof operator compares an object to a specified type. You can use it to test if an object is an instance of a class, an instance of a subclass, or an instance of a class that implements a particular interface.

The following program, InstanceofDemo , defines a parent class (named Parent ), a simple interface (named MyInterface ), and a child class (named Child ) that inherits from the parent and implements the interface.

When using the instanceof operator, keep in mind that null is not an instance of anything.

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In software development, an operator works on one or more operands in an expression. The Java programming language provides support for the following types of operators:

• Arithmetic Operators
• Unary Operators
• Assignment Operator
• Relational Operators
• Logical Operators
• Ternary Operator
• Bitwise Operators
• Shift Operators
• Comparison Operators

Ternary operators can be used to replace if…else or switch…case statements in your applications to make the code easy to understand and maintain over time. This programming tutorial talks about conditional operators and how you can work with them in Java.

What are the Types of Conditional Operators in Java?

There are three types of conditional operators in Java. These include:

• Conditional AND
• Conditional OR

Refer to the following piece of example Java code:

The same code can be written using a conditional operator as follows:

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Conditional AND Operator in Java

If a developer wants to check if two conditions are true at the same time, they can use Java’s conditional AND operator. This operator is represented by two ampersands ( && ).

Here is some example code showing how to use the conditional AND operator in Java:

If both condition1 and condition2 evaluate to true , the code inside the if block will be executed. On the contrary, if either condition1 or condition2 evaluates to false , code written inside the if statement will not be executed at all.

The following code example uses an if statement with a conditional AND operator to print a message when both conditions are satisfied:

Conditional OR Operator in Java

The conditional OR operator ( || ) in Java will return true if any of the operands is true . If both the operands evaluate to false , it will return false .

The following Java code example using the OR operator will print “true” at the console window:

Similarly, the following code will print “true” at the console window:

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Ternary Operator in Java

The ternary operator is a conditional operator that can be used to short-circuit evaluation in Java. It accepts three operands that comprise of a boolean condition, an expression that should be executed if the condition specified is true , and a second expression that should be executed if the condition is false .

In Java, the ternary operator is a one-liner alternative to if-else statements. You can use ternary operators and nested ternary operators to replace if-else statements.

The syntax of the ternary operator in Java is:

The condition must be a boolean expression. If the condition is true , then action1 will be executed. If the condition is false , then action2 will be executed.

Here is an example of how the ternary operator can be used in Java:

In this code example, if the condition (x < y) is true , then z will be assigned the value of x . If the condition (x < y) is false , then z will be assigned the value of y .

Here is another example of a ternary operator in Java:

Note that any code programmers write using ternary operators in Java can also be written using if..else statements. However, by using ternary operators, developers can improve the readability of their code.

Short-Circuiting Evaluation in Java

In java, the conditional AND and conditional OR operations can be performed on two boolean expressions using the && and || operators. Note that these operators can exhibit “short-circuiting” behavior, which means only the second operand is evaluated if necessary.

The conditional operator evaluates the boolean condition and then short-circuit evaluation executes either the true or false expression accordingly. This operator is often used as a replacement for if-else statements. You can use it to make your source code more readable, maintainable, and concise.

Here is the syntax of the if..else construct in Java:

For example, consider the following if-else statement:

This statement can be rewritten using the conditional operator as follows:

Final Thoughts on Conditional Operators in Java

Developers can use the conditional AND operator to determine whether both operands are true and the conditional OR operator to determine if any of the two operands is true . If you are using the conditional AND operator, the resulting value of the expression will be true if both operands are true .

If you are using a conditional OR operator, the resulting value of the expression will be true if either operand is true . The conditional AND operator is represented by an ampersand && and the conditional OR operator is represented by || .

The ternary operator may intimidate inexperienced developers, despite its simplicity and conciseness. Using nested ternary operators can be confusing. When choosing between Java ternary operators and if…else expressions, we would recommend using the latter for simplicity.

Read more Java programming tutorials and software development guides .

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Conditional AND

The operator is applied between two Boolean expressions. It is denoted by the two AND operators (&&). It returns true if and only if both expressions are true, else returns false.

Conditional OR

The operator is applied between two Boolean expressions. It is denoted by the two OR operator (||). It returns true if any of the expression is true, else returns false.

Let's create a Java program and use the conditional operator.

ConditionalOperatorExample.java

Ternary Operator

The meaning of ternary is composed of three parts. The ternary operator (? :) consists of three operands. It is used to evaluate Boolean expressions. The operator decides which value will be assigned to the variable. It is the only conditional operator that accepts three operands. It can be used instead of the if-else statement. It makes the code much more easy, readable, and shorter.

Note: Every code using an if-else statement cannot be replaced with a ternary operator.

The above statement states that if the condition returns true, expression1 gets executed, else the expression2 gets executed and the final result stored in a variable.

Let's understand the ternary operator through the flowchart.

TernaryOperatorExample.java

Let's see another example that evaluates the largest of three numbers using the ternary operator.

LargestNumberExample.java

In the above program, we have taken three variables x, y, and z having the values 69, 89, and 79, respectively. The expression (x > y) ? (x > z ? x : z) : (y > z ? y : z) evaluates the largest number among three numbers and store the final result in the variable largestNumber. Let's understand the execution order of the expression.

First, it checks the expression (x > y) . If it returns true the expression (x > z ? x : z) gets executed, else the expression (y > z ? y : z) gets executed.

When the expression (x > z ? x : z) gets executed, it further checks the condition x > z . If the condition returns true the value of x is returned, else the value of z is returned.

When the expression (y > z ? y : z) gets executed it further checks the condition y > z . If the condition returns true the value of y is returned, else the value of z is returned.

Therefore, we get the largest of three numbers using the ternary operator.

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Kotlin Conditional Assignment: Crafting Smarter Code Decisions

Dhaval Tarsariya

Frequently asked questions

Does kotlin have a ternary operator, how to write if-else in one line in kotlin, what is the alternative to a ternary operator in kotlin, what does the : (elvis operator) do in kotlin, how to check if something is null in kotlin.

Kotlin's approach to conditional assignment is both concise and expressive, allowing developers to write cleaner and more readable code. By using Kotlin's powerful syntax, you can easily handle various conditions and assignments in a streamlined manner. Additionally, extension functions play a crucial role in Kotlin conditional assignments, enabling developers to reduce wordiness and improve code organization.

Conditional assignment plays a crucial role in any programming language. It allows developers to assign a value to a variable based on some condition. In Kotlin, conditional assignment is an efficient way to execute logic without the clutter of excessive if-else statements. Kotlin's approach to conditional assignment is not only concise but also enhances the readability and maintainability of code.

Many developers moving from C-like languages may initially miss the familiar ternary operator (? :) used for inline conditional assignment. However, Kotlin provides powerful tools for conditional assignment. In this blog, we will explore how Kotlin handles conditional assignments, focusing on the absence of the traditional ternary operator and the alternatives Kotlin offers.

Understanding Kotlin's own mechanisms — such as the if expression, when expression, and the Elvis operator—can vastly improve code conciseness. Let’s dive into the kotlin syntax and look at how we can effectively assign values conditionally.

Kotlin and the Absence of the Ternary Operator

Many developers are accustomed to the ternary conditional operator from other languages like Java where you might find a simple condition ? trueValue : falseValue syntax. Yet, on delving into Kotlin, one finds that this specific operator is conspicuously absent. Kotlin’s designers intentionally left out the traditional ternary operator to maintain simplicity in the language’s design.

The primary reason for this decision is that the Kotlin if expression already serves the same purpose as the ternary operator but with greater clarity. Additionally, Kotlin's elvis operator (?:) is used to handle nullability and can make code concise for short and shallow conditional expressions. While some developers miss the elegance and aesthetics of the ternary operator, the elvis operator provides a readable and expressive alternative for simple conditions and expressions.

Kotlin focuses on being readable and expressive, and this is where if expressions take center stage. In this language, if isn’t just a statement; it’s an expression with a return value. Let’s explore how you can use if expressions to write clear and concise conditional assignments.

The Power of the If Expression

Kotlin transforms the traditional if else block from a mere control flow statement into an expression that returns a value. This means the result of an if expression can be directly assigned to a variable. The syntax is simple:

Here, val max will hold the greater of the two values a and b. It's a common pattern in Kotlin and replaces the ternary operator found in other languages. You can see that Kotlin prefers the use of clearer and more expressive forms of coding, and that is especially apparent with the use of if expressions.

An if expression in Kotlin is powerful. You can execute blocks of code within each branch, not just single line statements. For example:

The if expression evaluates each block and returns the value of the last expression in the executed block. This conditional expression can become as complex as necessary, still maintaining readability. With if expressions, Kotlin encourages developers to write conditional logic in a way that's expressive and concise.

Efficient Use of Kotlin’s Inline If for Concise Code

Kotlin’s inline if is your go-to for one-liners. This inline conditional expression allows you to assign values based on a condition in just a single line of code. It works fine as both a statement and an expression. Here’s how you can use it:

In one line, you evaluate the condition and assign the val max the value of a if a is greater than b, else you assign it the value of b. This is the Kotlin ternary operator example in practice, even though Kotlin doesn’t use the term “ternary operator.”

Although Kotlin lacks a traditional ternary operation, you can achieve similar functionality using alternatives like takeIf {} with an elvis operator, takeUnless {}, and inline extension methods to express code flexibly.

Inline if statements offer a swift way to handle conditional assignments without the verbosity of a multi-line if else statement. They are perfect when you need to make a quick decision between two possible values. This usage pattern encourages cleaner and more readable code— it’s clear, concise, and does exactly what it looks like on the surface.

Kotlin’s design promotes the maintainability of code, and inline conditional expressions are a testament to this philosophy. Let’s delve into Kotlin’s specific features next, starting with the Elvis operator.

The Elvis Operator: A Kotlin-specific Feature

Speaking of distinctive Kotlin features, the elvis operator takes a special place in Kotlin's conditional assignment arsenal. The elvis operator (?:) comes into play when dealing with nullable types, allowing you to specify a default value to use when a nullable expression resolves to null. Here's how it looks in practice:

In the above example, val name is assigned the value of person.name if it's not null; else "Unknown" is used as a default value. This operator is a succinct way to provide fallback values, and Kotlin's elvis operator is particularly handy to avoid NullPointerException that can occur in Java.

The elvis operator becomes even more powerful when combined with other Kotlin features. For instance, its use with Kotlin's return or throw can simplify functions significantly. Consider this example where it is combined with a throw:

In the example, val processedAge will be the age of the person, but if age is null, an exception is thrown immediately. Conclusively, Kotlin's elvis operator not only offers a straightforward syntax for null checks but encourages writing robust, null-safe code.

Practical Examples of Kotlin Ternary Assignment

Even though Kotlin does not have a traditional ternary operator, the techniques we've discussed serve the same purpose and often result in more readable code. Let's take a look at some practical examples.

Given two numbers, we might want to find out the larger number. Instead of writing a multi-line if else statement, you can simplify it using Kotlin’s inline if:

Something more complex may involve evaluating a grade based on a test score:

Here, val grade will contain the grade corresponding to the score. Kotlin’s if expression makes the code flow easy to follow and reduces it to essentially a one-liner for each condition.

For nullability checks, here’s how you might handle nullable strings:

With the above code, you can assign a default "guest" username if the user input returned null. It's a clean and expressive way to handle nullable values with Kotlin's elvis operator.

These examples illustrate how Kotlin uses if expressions and the elvis operator to handle conditional assignment.

Closing Thoughts

In the Kotlin universe, conditional assignment is elegantly simple yet profoundly potent. As we have seen, Kotlin does away with the traditional ternary operator, choosing clarity over brevity. Kotlin's if expressions and the elvis operator are prime examples of its readable and practical approach to coding.

By embracing Kotlin conditional assignment, developers can write code that not only communicates intent clearly but also manages complexity with sophistication. We've traversed through how val max = if (a > b) a else b and val name = person.name ?: "Unknown" are more than just replacements for ternary conditionals; they denote a language philosophy centered around safety and expressiveness.

In summary, Kotlin's conditional assignment tools offer a powerful means to write clear, maintainable, and concise code. It's a reminder that sometimes the absence of a feature, like a traditional ternary operator, can inspire a more innovative approach that can enhance the way we write and understand code.

Are you ready to unlock the full potential of Kotlin development?

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Java Ternary Operator with Examples

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Operators constitute the basic building block of any programming language. Java provides many types of operators that can be used according to the need to perform various calculations and functions, be it logical, arithmetic, relational, etc. They are classified based on the functionality they provide. Here are a few types: 

• Arithmetic Operators
• Unary Operators
• Assignment Operator
• Relational Operators
• Logical Operators
• Ternary Operator
• Bitwise Operators
• Shift Operators

This article explains all that one needs to know regarding Ternary Operators. 

Ternary Operator in Java

Java ternary operator is the only conditional operator that takes three operands. It’s a one-liner replacement for the if-then-else statement and is used a lot in Java programming. We can use the ternary operator in place of if-else conditions or even switch conditions using nested ternary operators. Although it follows the same algorithm as of if-else statement, the conditional operator takes less space and helps to write the if-else statements in the shortest way possible.

If operates similarly to that of the if-else statement as in Exression2 is executed if Expression1 is true else Expression3 is executed.  

Example:   

Flowchart of Ternary Operation  

Examples of Ternary Operators in Java

Example 1:  .

Below is the implementation of the Ternary Operator:

Complexity of the above method:

Time Complexity: O(1) Auxiliary Space: O(1)

Example 2:  

Below is the implementation of the above method:

Implementing ternary operator on Boolean values:

Explanation of the above method:

In this program, a Boolean variable condition is declared and assigned the value true. Then, the ternary operator is used to determine the value of the result string. If the condition is true, the value of result will be “True”, otherwise it will be “False”. Finally, the value of result is printed to the console.

Advantages of Java Ternary Operator

• Compactness : The ternary operator allows you to write simple if-else statements in a much more concise way, making the code easier to read and maintain.
• Improved readability : When used correctly, the ternary operator can make the code more readable by making it easier to understand the intent behind the code.
• Increased performance: Since the ternary operator evaluates a single expression instead of executing an entire block of code, it can be faster than an equivalent if-else statement.
• Simplification of nested if-else statements: The ternary operator can simplify complex logic by providing a clean and concise way to perform conditional assignments.
• Easy to debug : If a problem occurs with the code, the ternary operator can make it easier to identify the cause of the problem because it reduces the amount of code that needs to be examined.

It’s worth noting that the ternary operator is not a replacement for all if-else statements. For complex conditions or logic, it’s usually better to use an if-else statement to avoid making the code more difficult to understand.

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