3.1 Lesson Outcomes
After completing this lesson, learners will be able to:
- Use if statements in Java.
- Apply if-else structures.
- Use nested conditionals.
- Apply logical and comparison operators.
- Create Java programs that make decisions.
3.2 Overview
Conditional statements allow Java applications to make decisions based on specific conditions. Java uses decision-making structures such as:
- if,
- if-else,
- else-if,
- and switch statements.
Conditionals are important in:
- software logic,
- authentication systems,
- banking systems,
- game development,
- and enterprise applications.
Understanding conditionals is important because decision-making controls application behaviour.
PA1401 — Use if Statements
The if statement executes code when a condition is true.
Java Example:
int age = 20;
if (age >= 18) {
System.out.println(“Adult”);
}
Practical Activity
Learners must:
- create if statements,
- apply conditions,
- and display results.
PA1402 — Use if-else Statements
if-else structures allow alternative execution paths.
Java Example:
int marks = 45;
if (marks >= 50) {
System.out.println(“Pass”);
} else {
System.out.println(“Fail”);
}
Practical Activity
Learners must:
- create if-else statements,
- test conditions,
- and display alternative outputs.
PA1403 — Use else-if Statements
else-if statements evaluate multiple conditions.
Java Example:
int marks = 75;
if (marks >= 80) {
System.out.println(“Distinction”);
} else if (marks >= 50) {
System.out.println(“Pass”);
} else {
System.out.println(“Fail”);
}
Practical Activity
Learners must:
- create multiple conditions,
- evaluate marks,
- and display outputs.
PA1404 — Use Comparison Operators
Comparison operators compare values.
Comparison Operator — Purpose
== — Equal to
!= — Not equal to
— Greater than
< — Less than
= — Greater than or equal to
<= — Less than or equal to
Java Example:
int x = 10;
System.out.println(x > 5);
Practical Activity
Learners must:
- apply comparison operators,
- compare values,
- and display results.
PA1405 — Use Logical Operators
Logical operators combine conditions.
Logical Operator — Purpose
&& — AND
|| — OR
! — NOT
Java Example:
int age = 20;
boolean hasID = true;
if (age >= 18 && hasID) {
System.out.println(“Access Granted”);
}
Practical Activity
Learners must:
- combine conditions,
- apply logical operators,
- and test outputs.
PA1406 — Use Nested Conditionals
Conditionals may exist inside other conditionals.
Java Example:
int age = 25;
boolean registered = true;
if (age >= 18) {
if (registered) {
System.out.println(“Eligible”);
}
}
Practical Activity
Learners must:
- create nested conditionals,
- apply multiple checks,
- and display results.
PA1407 — Use switch Statements
switch statements simplify multiple condition checks.
Java Example:
int day = 2;
switch(day) {
case 1:
System.out.println(“Monday”);
break;
case 2:
System.out.println(“Tuesday”);
break;
default:
System.out.println(“Invalid Day”);
}
Practical Activity
Learners must:
- create switch statements,
- apply cases,
- and display outputs.
PA1408 — Create Complete Conditional Program
Conditional logic is used in complete Java applications.
Java Example:
public class ConditionalExample {
public static void main(String[] args) {
int marks = 70;
if (marks >= 50) {
System.out.println(“Pass”);
} else {
System.out.println(“Fail”);
}
}
}
Importance of Conditionals
Conditionals support:
- decision-making,
- program control,
- and dynamic application behaviour.
3.5 Key Notes / Summary
- if statements evaluate conditions.
- if-else structures support alternative decisions.
- else-if evaluates multiple conditions.
- Logical operators combine conditions.
- Comparison operators compare values.
- switch statements simplify decision structures.
- Conditionals control program behaviour.