Java Conditional Statements: if, else, else-if and switch

In our previous post, we learned about Java Operators and how to perform math, comparisons, and logic.

✨ Quick Summary

Now it’s time to learn something even more important: how Java makes decisions.

In Java, we use Conditional Statements to run code based on conditions.

In this blog, you will learn:

• ✅ if statement
• ✅ if-else statement
• ✅ else-if ladder
• ✅ nested if
• ✅ switch statement

---

1) if Statement

The if statement checks a condition. If the condition is true, the code inside it will run.

public class IfExample {
    public static void main(String[] args) {

        int age = 20;

        if (age >= 18) {
            System.out.println("You are eligible to vote!");
        }
    }
}

---

2) if-else Statement

The if-else statement runs one block if the condition is true, otherwise it runs the else block.

public class IfElseExample {
    public static void main(String[] args) {

        int number = 10;

        if (number % 2 == 0) {
            System.out.println("The number is Even");
        } else {
            System.out.println("The number is Odd");
        }
    }
}

---

3) else-if Ladder

The else-if ladder is used when you have multiple conditions.

Java checks conditions from top to bottom. The first true condition will execute.

public class ElseIfExample {
    public static void main(String[] args) {

        int marks = 85;

        if (marks >= 90) {
            System.out.println("Grade: A+");
        } else if (marks >= 80) {
            System.out.println("Grade: A");
        } else if (marks >= 70) {
            System.out.println("Grade: B");
        } else if (marks >= 60) {
            System.out.println("Grade: C");
        } else {
            System.out.println("Grade: Fail");
        }
    }
}

---

4) Nested if Statement

A nested if means an if statement inside another if statement.

public class NestedIfExample {
    public static void main(String[] args) {

        int age = 22;
        boolean hasID = true;

        if (age >= 18) {
            if (hasID) {
                System.out.println("Access Granted!");
            } else {
                System.out.println("ID is required!");
            }
        } else {
            System.out.println("You are underage!");
        }
    }
}

---

5) switch Statement

The switch statement is used when you want to compare one value with multiple cases.

It is cleaner than writing many else-if conditions.

public class SwitchExample {
    public static void main(String[] args) {

        int day = 3;

        switch (day) {
            case 1:
                System.out.println("Monday");
                break;

            case 2:
                System.out.println("Tuesday");
                break;

            case 3:
                System.out.println("Wednesday");
                break;

            case 4:
                System.out.println("Thursday");
                break;

            case 5:
                System.out.println("Friday");
                break;

            default:
                System.out.println("Invalid day");
        }
    }
}

---

Bonus: switch with String Example

Java also supports switch with Strings.

public class SwitchStringExample {
    public static void main(String[] args) {

        String role = "Admin";

        switch (role) {
            case "Admin":
                System.out.println("Full access granted");
                break;

            case "User":
                System.out.println("Limited access granted");
                break;

            default:
                System.out.println("Guest access");
        }
    }
}

---

Conclusion

Conditional statements are one of the most important parts of Java programming because they allow your program to:

• ✅ Make decisions
• ✅ Control the flow of execution
• ✅ Build real-life logic

In the next post, we will learn about Java Loops (for, while, do-while) and how to repeat tasks in Java!