CHAPTER-6 FLOW OF CONTROL

Java compiler executes the code from top to bottom. The statements in the code are
executed according to the order in which they appear. However, Java provides statements
that can be used to control the flow of Java code. Such statements are called control flow
statements. It is one of the fundamental features of Java, which provides a smooth flow of
program.

Java provides three types of control flow statements.

1. Decision Making statements

o if statements
o switch statement
2. Loop statements
o do while loop
o while loop
o for loop
o for-each loop
3. Jump statements
o break statement
o continue statement

Decision-Making statements:

As the name suggests, decision-making statements decide which statement to execute and
when. Decision-making statements evaluate the Boolean expression and control the
program flow depending upon the result of the condition provided. There are two types of
decision-making statements in Java, i.e., If statement and switch statement.

1) If Statement:

In Java, the "if" statement is used to evaluate a condition. The control of the program is
diverted depending upon the specific condition. The condition of the If statement gives a
Boolean value, either true or false. In Java, there are four types of if-statements given
below.

1. Simple if statement
2. if-else statement
3. if-else-if ladder
4. Nested if-statement
 Let's understand the if-statements one by one.

1) Simple if statement:

It is the most basic statement among all control flow statements in Java. It evaluates a
Boolean expression and enables the program to enter a block of code if the expression
evaluates to true.

Syntax of if statement is given below.

1. if(condition) {
2. statement 1; //executes when condition is true
3. }

2) The if-else statement is an extension to the if-statement, which uses another block of
code, i.e., else block. The else block is executed if the condition of the if-block is evaluated
as false.

Syntax:

1. if(condition) {
2. statement 1; //executes when condition is true
3. }
4. else{
5. statement 2; //executes when condition is false
6. }

3) if-else-if ladder:

The if-else-if statement contains the if-statement followed by multiple else-if statements.
In other words, we can say that it is the chain of if-else statements that create a decision
tree where the program may enter in the block of code where the condition is true. We can
also define an else statement at the end of the chain.

Syntax of if-else-if statement is given below.

1. if(condition 1) {
2. statement 1; //executes when condition 1 is true
3. }
4. else if(condition 2) {
5. statement 2; //executes when condition 2 is true
6. }
7. else {
8. statement 2; //executes when all the conditions are false
9. }

4. Nested if-statement

In nested if-statements, the if statement can contain a if or if-else statement inside

another if or else-if statement.

Syntax of Nested if-statement is given below.

1. if(condition 1) {
2. statement 1; //executes when condition 1 is true
3. if(condition 2) {
4. statement 2; //executes when condition 2 is true
5. }
6. else{
7. statement 2; //executes when condition 2 is false
8. }
9. }

Switch Statement:

In Java, Switch statements are similar to if-else-if statements. The switch statement
contains multiple blocks of code called cases and a single case is executed based on the
variable which is being switched. The switch statement is easier to use instead of if-else-if
statements. It also enhances the readability of the program.

Points to be noted about switch statement:

o The case variables can be int, short, byte, char, or enumeration. String type is also
supported since version 7 of Java
o Cases cannot be duplicate
o Default statement is executed when any of the case doesn't match the value of
expression. It is optional.
o Break statement terminates the switch block when the condition is satisfied.
It is optional, if not used, next case is executed.
o While using switch statements, we must notice that the case expression will be of
the same type as the variable. However, it will also be a constant value.

The syntax to use the switch statement is given below.

1. switch (expression){
2. case value1:
3. statement1;
4. break;
5. .
6. .
7. .
8. case valueN:
9. statementN;
10. break;
11. default:
12. default statement;
13. }

While using switch statements, we must notice that the case expression will be of the
same type as the variable. However, it will also be a constant value. The switch permits
only int, string, and Enum type variables to be used.

Loop Statements

In programming, sometimes we need to execute the block of code repeatedly while some
condition evaluates to true. However, loop statements are used to execute the set of
instructions in a repeated order. The execution of the set of instructions depends upon a
particular condition.

In Java, we have three types of loops that execute similarly. However, there are differences
in their syntax and condition checking time.

1. for loop
2. while loop
3. do-while loop

Let's understand the loop statements one by one.

Java for loop

In Java, for loop is similar to C and C++. It enables us to initialize the loop variable, check
the condition, and increment/decrement in a single line of code. We use the for loop only
when we exactly know the number of times, we want to execute the block of code.

1. for(initialization, condition, increment/decrement) {

2. //block of statements
3. }

The flow chart for the for-loop is given below.

Java for-each loop

Java provides an enhanced for loop to traverse the data structures like array or collection.
In the for-each loop, we don't need to update the loop variable. The syntax to use the for-
each loop in java is given below.

1. for(data_type var : array_name/collection_name){

2. //statements
3. }

While loop

The while loop is also used to iterate over the number of statements multiple times.
However, if we don't know the number of iterations in advance, it is recommended to use
a while loop. Unlike for loop, the initialization and increment/decrement doesn't take
place inside the loop statement in while loop.

It is also known as the entry-controlled loop since the condition is checked at the start of
the loop. If the condition is true, then the loop body will be executed; otherwise, the
statements after the loop will be executed.

The syntax of the while loop is given below.

1. while(condition){
2. //looping statements
3. }
 The flow chart for the while loop is given in the following image.

do-while loop

The do-while loop checks the condition at the end of the loop after executing the loop
statements. When the number of iteration is not known and we have to execute the loop at
least once, we can use do-while loop.

It is also known as the exit-controlled loop since the condition is not checked in advance.
The syntax of the do-while loop is given below.

1. do
2. {
3. //statements
4. } while (condition);

The flow chart of the do-while loop is given in the following image.
Jump Statements

Jump statements are used to transfer the control of the program to the specific
statements. In other words, jump statements transfer the execution control to the other
part of the program. There are two types of jump statements in Java, i.e., break and
continue.

Java break statement

As the name suggests, the break statement is used to break the current flow of the
program and transfer the control to the next statement outside a loop or switch statement.
However, it breaks only the inner loop in the case of the nested loop.

The break statement cannot be used independently in the Java program, i.e., it can only be
written inside the loop or switch statement.

The break statement example with for loop

Consider the following example in which we have used the break statement with the for
loop.

Java continue statement

Unlike break statement, the continue statement doesn't break the loop, whereas, it skips
the specific part of the loop and jumps to the next iteration of the loop immediately.
 Java If-else Statement

The Java if statement is used to test the condition. It

checks boolean condition: true or false. There are various types of if statement in Java.

o if statement
o if-else statement
o if-else-if ladder
o nested if statement

if Statement

The Java if statement tests the condition. It executes the if block if condition is true.

Syntax:

1. if(condition){
2. //code to be executed
3. }
 Example:

1. //Java Program to demonstate the use of if statement.

2. public class IfExample {
3. public static void main(String[] args) {
4. //defining an 'age' variable
5. int age=20;
6. //checking the age
7. if(age>18){
8. System.out.print("Age is greater than 18");
9. }
10. }
11. }

Output:

Age is greater than 18

Java if-else Statement

The Java if-else statement also tests the condition. It executes the if block if condition is
true otherwise else block is executed.

Syntax:

1. if(condition){
2. //code if condition is true
3. }else{
4. //code if condition is false
5. }
 Example:

Java if-else-if ladder Statement

The if-else-if ladder statement executes one condition from multiple statements.

1. if(condition1){
2. //code to be executed if condition1 is true
3. }else if(condition2){
4. //code to be executed if condition2 is true
5. }
6. else if(condition3){
7. //code to be executed if condition3 is true
8. }
9. ...
10. else{
11. //code to be executed if all the conditions are false
12. }
 Java Nested if statement

The nested if statement represents the if block within another if block. Here, the inner if
block condition executes only when outer if block condition is true.

Syntax:

1. if(condition){
2. //code to be executed
3. if(condition){
4. //code to be executed
5. }
6. }
Java Switch Statement

The Java switch statement executes one statement from multiple conditions. It is like if-
else-if ladder statement. The switch statement works with byte, short, int, long, enum
types, String and some wrapper types like Byte, Short, Int, and Long. Since Java 7, you can
use strings in the switch statement.

In other words, the switch statement tests the equality of a variable against multiple
values.

o There can be one or N number of case values for a switch expression.

 o The case value must be of switch expression type only. The case value must
be literal or constant. It doesn't allow variables.
o The case values must be unique. In case of duplicate value, it renders compile-time
error.
o The Java switch expression must be of byte, short, int, long (with its Wrapper
type), enums and string.
o Each case statement can have a break statement which is optional. When control
reaches to the break statement, it jumps the control after the switch expression. If a
break statement is not found, it executes the next case.
o The case value can have a default label which is optional.

Syntax:

1. switch(expression){
2. case value1:
3. //code to be executed;
4. break; //optional
5. case value2:
6. //code to be executed;
7. break; //optional
8. ......
9.
10. default:
11. code to be executed if all cases are not matched;
12. }

Flowchart of Switch Statement

Java Nested Switch Statement

We can use switch statement inside other switch statement in Java. It is known as nested
switch statement.

Loops in Java
The Java for loop is used to iterate a part of the program several times. If the number of
iteration is fixed, it is recommended to use for loop.

There are three types of for loops in Java.

 o Simple for Loop
o For-each or Enhanced for Loop
o Labeled for Loop

Java Simple for Loop

A simple for loop is the same as C/C++. We can initialize the variable, check condition and
increment/decrement value. It consists of four parts:

1. Initialization: It is the initial condition which is executed once when the loop starts.
Here, we can initialize the variable, or we can use an already initialized variable. It is
an optional condition.
2. Condition: It is the second condition which is executed each time to test the
condition of the loop. It continues execution until the condition is false. It must
return boolean value either true or false. It is an optional condition.
3. Increment/Decrement: It increments or decrements the variable value. It is an
optional condition.
 4. Statement: The statement of the loop is executed each time until the second
condition is false.

Syntax:

1. for(initialization; condition; increment/decrement){

2. //statement or code to be executed
3. }

Flowchart:

Example:

ForExample.java

1. //Java Program to demonstrate the example of for loop

2. //which prints table of 1
3. public class ForExample {
4. public static void main(String[] args) {
5. //Code of Java for loop
6. for(int i=1;i<=10;i++){
7. System.out.println(i);
8. }
9. }
10. }
Test it Now

Output:

1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
Java Nested for Loop

If we have a for loop inside the another loop, it is known as nested for loop. The inner loop
executes completely whenever outer loop executes.

Example:

NestedForExample.java

1. public class NestedForExample {

2. public static void main(String[] args) {
3. //loop of i
4. for(int i=1;i<=3;i++){
5. //loop of j
6. for(int j=1;j<=3;j++){
7. System.out.println(i+" "+j);
8. }//end of i
9. }//end of j
10. }
11. }

Output:

11
12
13
21
22
23
31
32
33

Pyramid Example 1:

PyramidExample.java

1. public class PyramidExample {

2. public static void main(String[] args) {
3. for(int i=1;i<=5;i++){
4. for(int j=1;j<=i;j++){
5. System.out.print("* ");
6. }
7. System.out.println();//new line
8. }
9. }
10. }

Output:

*
**
***
****
*****
Java for-each Loop

The for-each loop is used to traverse array or collection in Java. It is easier to use than
simple for loop because we don't need to increment value and use subscript notation.

It works on the basis of elements and not the index. It returns element one by one in the
defined variable.
 Syntax:

1. for(data_type variable : array_name){

2. //code to be executed
3. }
Java Labeled For Loop

We can have a name of each Java for loop. To do so, we use label before the for loop. It is
useful while using the nested for loop as we can break/continue specific for loop.

Note: The break and continue keywords breaks or continues the innermost for loop
respectively.

Syntax:

1. labelname:
2. for(initialization; condition; increment/decrement){
3. //code to be executed
4. }

Example:

Java Infinitive for Loop

If you use two semicolons ;; in the for loop, it will be infinitive for loop.

Syntax:

1. for(;;){
2. //code to be executed
3. }
1. //Java program to demonstrate the use of infinite for loop
2. //which prints an statement
3. public class ForExample {
4. public static void main(String[] args) {
5. //Using no condition in for loop
6. for(;;){
7. System.out.println("infinitive loop");
8. }
9. }
10. }
Output:

infinitive loop
infinitive loop
infinitive loop
infinitive loop
infinitive loop
ctrl+c

Now, you need to press ctrl+c to exit from the program.

Java for Loop vs while Loop vs do-while Loop

Compariso for loop while loop do-while loop
n

Introduction The Java for loop is a control The Java while loop The Java do while
flow statement that iterates is a control flow loop is a control flow
a part of statement that statement that
the programs multiple executes a part of executes a part of
times. the programs the programs at
repeatedly on the least once and the
basis of given further execution
boolean condition. depends upon the
given boolean
condition.

When to use If the number of iteration is If the number of If the number of

fixed, it is recommended to iteration is not fixed, iteration is not fixed
use for loop. it is recommended and you must have
to use while loop. to execute the loop
at least once, it is
recommended to use
the do-while loop.

Syntax for(init;condition;incr/decr) while(condition){ do{

{ //code to be //code to be
// code to be executed executed executed
} } }while(condition);
Example //for loop //while loop //do-while loop
for(int i=1;i<=10;i++){ int i=1; int i=1;
System.out.println(i); while(i<=10){ do{
} System.out.println(i) System.out.println(i)
; ;
i++; i++;
} }while(i<=10);

Syntax for for(;;){ while(true){ do{

infinitive //code to be executed //code to be //code to be
loop } executed executed
} }while(true);