JavaScript if...else Statements

While writing a program, there may be a situation when you need to adopt one path out of the given two paths. So you need to make use of conditional statements that allow your program to make correct decisions and perform right actions.

JavaScript supports conditional statements which are used to perform different actions based on different conditions. Here we will explain if..else statement.

JavaScript supports following forms of if..else statement:

• if statement
• if...else statement
• if...else if... statement.

if statement:

The if statement is the fundamental control statement that allows JavaScript to make decisions and execute statements conditionally.

Syntax:

if (expression){ Statement(s) to be executed if expression is true }

Here JavaScript expression is evaluated. If the resulting value is true, given statement(s) are executed. If expression is false then no statement would be not executed. Most of the times you will use comparison operators while making decisions.

Example:

<script type="text/javascript"> <!-- var age = 20; if( age > 18 ){ document.write("<b>Qualifies for driving</b>"); } //--> </script>

This will produce following result:

Qualifies for driving

if...else statement:

The if...else statement is the next form of control statement that allows JavaScript to execute statements in more controlled way.

Syntax:

if (expression){ Statement(s) to be executed if expression is true }else{ Statement(s) to be executed if expression is false }

Here JavaScript expression is evaluated. If the resulting value is true, given statement(s) in theif block, are executed. If expression is false then given statement(s) in the else block, are executed.

Example:

<script type="text/javascript"> <!-- var age = 15; if( age > 18 ){ document.write("<b>Qualifies for driving</b>"); }else{ document.write("<b>Does not qualify for driving</b>"); } //--> </script>

This will produce following result:

Does not qualify for driving

if...else if... statement:

The if...else if... statement is the one level advance form of control statement that allows JavaScript to make correct decision out of several conditions.

Syntax:

if (expression 1){ Statement(s) to be executed if expression 1 is true }else if (expression 2){ Statement(s) to be executed if expression 2 is true }else if (expression 3){ Statement(s) to be executed if expression 3 is true }else{ Statement(s) to be executed if no expression is true }

There is nothing special about this code. It is just a series of if statements, where each if is part of the else clause of the previous statement. Statement(s) are executed based on the true condition, if non of the condition is true then else block is executed.

Example:

<script type="text/javascript"> <!-- var book = "maths"; if( book == "history" ){ document.write("<b>History Book</b>"); }else if( book == "maths" ){ document.write("<b>Maths Book</b>"); }else if( book == "economics" ){ document.write("<b>Economics Book</b>"); }else{ document.write("<b>Unknown Book</b>"); } //--> </script>

This will produce following result:

Maths Book