• Learn the "if" statements.
• Learn the "switch" statement.
• Learn how "break"  is used in "switch" statements.
• Understand proper use of  the "goto" statement.

In the last couple lessons, every program you saw contained a limited amount of sequential steps and then stopped.  There were no decisions you could make with the input and the only constraint was to follow straight through to the end.  The information in this lesson with help you branch into separate logical sequences based on decisions you make.

Our first selection statement is the "if" statement.  It has three primary forms:  a single decision, an either/or decision, and multi-case decision.

Listing 3-1.  Forms of the IF statement:  IfSelection.cs

using System;

class IfSelect {

    public static void Main() {
        string myInput;
        int myInt;

        Console.Write("Please enter a number: ");
        myInput = Console.ReadLine();
        myInt = Int32.Parse(myInput);

        // Single Decision and Action with brackets
        if (myInt > 0) {
            Console.WriteLine("Your number {0} is greater than zero.", myInt);
        }

        // Single Decision and Action without brackets
        if (myInt < 0) 
            Console.WriteLine("Your number {0} is less than zero.", myInt);

        // Either/Or Decision
        if (myInt != 0) {
            Console.WriteLine("Your number {0} is not equal to zero.", myInt);
        }
        else {
            Console.WriteLine("Your number {0} is equal to zero.", myInt);
        }

        // Multiple Case Decision
        if (myInt < 0 || myInt == 0) {
            Console.WriteLine("Your number {0} is less than or equal to zero.", myInt);
        }
        else if (myInt > 0 && myInt <= 10) {
            Console.WriteLine("Your number {0} is between 1 and 10.", myInt);
        }
        else if (myInt > 10 && myInt <= 20) {
            Console.WriteLine("Your number {0} is between 11 and 20.", myInt);
        }
        else if (myInt > 20 && myInt <= 30) {
            Console.WriteLine("Your number {0} is between 21 and 30.", myInt);
        }
        else {
            Console.WriteLine("Your number {0} is greater than 30.", myInt);
        }

    }
}

The statements in Listing 3-1 use the same input variable, "myInt" as a part of their evaluations.  This is another way of obtaining interactive input from the user.  We first print the line "Please enter a number:  " to the console.  The "Console.ReadLine()" statement causes the program to wait for input from the user, who types a number and then presses the enter or return key.  This number is returned in the form of a string into the "myInput" variable, which is a string type.  Since we must evaluate the user's input in the form of an integer, "myInput" must be converted.  This is done with the command "Int32.Parse(myInput)".  (Int32 and similar types will be covered in another lesson on advanced types)  The result is placed into the "myInt" variable, which is an integer type.

Now that we have a variable in the type we wanted, we will evaluate it with "if" statements.  The first  statement is of the form if (boolean expression) { statements }.  You must begin with the keyword "if".  Next is the boolean expression between parenthesis.  This boolean expression must evaluate to a true or false value.  In this case, we are checking the user's input to see if it is greater than (>) 0.  If this expression evaluates to true, we execute the statements within the curly braces.  (We refer to the structure with curly braces as a "block")  There could be one or more statements within in this block.  If the boolean expression evaluates to false, we ignore the statements inside the block and continue program execution with the next statement after the block.

The second "if" statement is much like the first, except it does not have a block.  Therefore, if it's boolean expression evaluates to true, the first statement after the boolean expression will be executed.  When the boolean expression evaluates the false, the first statement after the boolean expression will be skipped and the next program statement will be executed.  This form of "if" statement is adequate when you only have a single statement to execute.  If you want to execute two or more statements when the boolean expression evaluates to true, you must enclose them in a block. My personal recommendation is to make it a habit to always put your if statements within a block, regardless of whether or not you only have only one statement to execute.  This will help avoid mistakes where you later decide to add a statement and forget to add the curly braces.

Most of the time, you'll want to make an either/or kind of decision.  The third "if" statement in Listing 3-1 presents this idea.  When the boolean expression evaluates to true, the statement(s) immediately following the "if" statement are executed.  However, when the boolean expression evaluates to false, the statements following the "else" keyword are executed.

When you have multiple expressions to evaluate, you can use the if/else if/else form of the "if" statement.  We show this form in the fourth "if" statement of Listing 3-1.  You begin with the "if" keyword, again executing the following block if the boolean expression evaluates to true.  However, this time you can evaluate multiple subsequent conditions with the "else if" keyword combination.  the "else if" statement also takes a boolean expression, just like the "if" statement.  The rules are the same, when the boolean expression for the "else if" statement evaluates to true, the block immediately following the boolean expression is executed.  This can go on until all cases have been evaluated, but the entire "if/else if" sequence must end with a final "else" part.  When none of the other "if" or "else if" boolean expressions evaluate to true, the block following the "else" keyword will be executed.  Only one section of an if/else if/else statement will be executed.

One difference in the last statement from the others is the boolean expressions.  The boolean expression, (myInt < 0 || myInt == 0), contains the conditional OR (||) operator.  In both the regular OR (|) operator and the conditional OR (||) operator, the boolean expression will evaluate to true if either of the two sub-expressions on either side of the operator evaluate to true.  The primary difference between the two OR forms are that the regular OR operator will evaluate both sub-expressions every time.  However, the conditional OR will evaluate the second sub-expression only if the first sub-expression evaluates to false.

The boolean expression, (myInt > 0 && myInt <= 10), contains the conditional AND operator.  Both the regular AND (&) operator and the conditional AND (&&) operator will return true when both of the sub-expressions on either side of the operator evaluate to true.  The difference between the two is that the regular AND operator will evaluate both expressions every time.  However, the conditional AND operator will evaluate the second sub-expression only when the first sub-expression evaluates to true.  The conditional operators (&& and ||) are commonly called short-circuit operators because they do not always evaluate the entire expression.  Thus, they are also used to produce more efficient code by ignoring unnecessary logic.

Similar to the if/else if/else form of the "if" statement is the "switch" statement.  

Listing 3-2. Switch Statements:  SwitchSelection.cs

using System;

class SwitchSelect {

    public static void Main() {
        string myInput;
        int myInt;

        begin:

        Console.Write("Please enter a number between 1 and 3: ");
        myInput = Console.ReadLine();
        myInt = Int32.Parse(myInput);

        // switch with integer type
        switch (myInt) {
            case 1:
                Console.WriteLine("Your number is {0}.", myInt);
                break;
            case 2:
                Console.WriteLine("Your number is {0}.", myInt);
                break;
            case 3:
                Console.WriteLine("Your number is {0}.", myInt);
                break;
            default:
                Console.WriteLine("Your number {0} is not between 1 and 3.", myInt);
        }

        decide:

        Console.Write("Type \"continue\" to go on or \"quit\" to stop: ");
        myInput = Console.ReadLine();

        // switch with string type
        switch (myInput) {
            case "continue":
                goto begin;
            case "quit":
                Console.WriteLine("Bye.");
                break;
            default:
                Console.WriteLine("Your input {0} is incorrect.", myInput);
                goto decide;
        }
    }
}

Listing 3-2 shows a couple switch statements.  The "switch" statement begins with the "switch" keyword followed by the switch expression.  The switch expression must evaluate to one of the following types:  sbyte, byte, short, ushort, int, uint, long, ulong, char, string, or enum type.  (enum types will be covered in another lesson on advanced types)  In the first "switch" statement in listing 3-2, the switch expression evaluates to an int type.

Following the switch expression is the switch block, where one or more choices are evaluated for a possible match with the switch expression.  Each choice is labeled with the "case" keyword, followed by an example that is of the same type as the switch expression and followed by a colon (:).  In the example we have "case 1:", "case 2:", and "case 3:".  When the result evaluated in the switch expression matches one of these choices, the statements immediately following the matching choice are executed, up to and including either a "break" or "goto" statement.

You may also include a "default" choice following all other choices.  If none of the other choices match, then the default choice is taken and it's statements are executed.  Although use of the default label is optional, I highly recommend that you always include it.  This will help catch unforeseen circumstances and make your programs more reliable.

Each "case" label must end with a "break" statement.  The "break" statement will cause the program to exit the switch statement and begin execution with the next statement after the switch block.  The "break" statement is optional for the "default" label, as the same behavior will occur without it.  The exception to this is if you place a "goto" statement in the switch block.

The second "switch" statement in Listing 3-2 shows the use of the "goto" statement.  The "goto" statement causes program execution to jump to the label following the "goto" keyword.  During execution, if the user types in "continue", the switch statement matches this input (a string type) with the case "continue": label and executes the "goto begin:" instruction.  The program will then leave the "switch" statement and start executing the first program statement following the "begin:" label.  This is effectively a loop, allowing you to execute the same code multiple times.  The loop will end when the user types the string "quit".  This will be evaluated with the case "quit": choice, which will print "Bye." to the console, break out of the switch statement and end the program.  

When neither the "continue" nor "quit" strings are entered, the "default:" case will be entered.  It will print an error message to the console and then execute the "goto decide:" command.  This will cause program execution to jump to the first statement following the "decide:" label, which will ask the user if they want to continue or quit.  This is effectively another loop.

Clearly, the "goto" statement is powerful and can, under controlled circumstances, be useful.  However, I must caution you strongly on it's use.  The "goto" statement has great potential for misuse.  You could possibly create a very difficult program to debug and maintain.  Imagine the spaghetti code that could be created by random goto statements throughout a program.  In the next lesson, I'll show you a better way to create loops in your program.

By now you know how to make decisions in your logic using multiple forms of the "if" statement.  You've also learned how to use a "switch" statement.  You use the "break" statement to exit the "switch" statement.  Finally, you know how to use a "goto" statement to jump to another part of your program.