Decision Control Statements in C

Decision control statements require that the programmer specifies one or more conditions to
be evaluated or tested by the program, along with a statement or statements to be executed if
the condition is determined to be true, and optionally, other statements to be executed if the
condition is determined to be false.

C programming language provides the following types of decision making statements.

 if statement

An if statement consists of a boolean expression followed by one or more statements.

 if...else statement

An if statement can be followed by an optional else statement, which executes when the

Boolean expression is false.

 if- else if statements

 switch statement

A switch statement allows a variable to be tested for equality against a list of values.

if statement
An if statement consists of a Boolean expression followed by one or more statements.

Syntax

if(test expression)

Statements:

If the test expression evaluates to true, then the block of code inside the 'if' statement will be
executed. If the test expression evaluates to false, then the first set of code after the end of the
'if' statement (after the closing curly brace) will be executed. C programming language
assumes any non-zero and non-null values as true and if it is either zero or null, then it is
assumed as false value.
Flow Diagram

Example

#include <stdio.h>

int main ()

int a = 10;

/* check the condition using if statement */

if( a < 20 )

/* if condition is true then print the following */

printf("a is less than 20\n" );

printf("value of a is : %d\n", a);

return 0;

When the above code is compiled and executed, it produces the following result −

a is less than 20;

value of a is : 10

if...else statement
An if statement can be followed by an optional else statement, which executes when the test

expression is false.

Syntax

The syntax of an if...else statement in C programming language is −

if(test expression)

/* statement(s) will execute if the test expression is true */

else

/* statement(s) will execute if the test expression is false */

If the test expression evaluates to true, then the if block will be executed, otherwise, the else

block will be executed. C programming language assumes any non-zero and non-null values
as true, and if it is either zero or null, then it is assumed as false value.

Flow Diagram
Example:

#include <stdio.h>

int main ()

int a = 100;

/* check the boolean condition */

if( a < 20 )

/* if condition is true then print the following */

printf("a is less than 20\n" );

else

/* if condition is false then print the following */

printf("a is not less than 20\n" );

printf("value of a is : %d\n", a);

return 0;

When the above code is compiled and executed, it produces the following result −

a is not less than 20;

value of a is : 100

If...else if...else Statement

An if statement can be followed by an optional else if...else statement, which is very useful to
test various conditions using single if...else if statement.

When using if...else if..else statements, there are few points to keep in mind −

 An if can have zero or one else's and it must come after any else if's.
 An if can have zero to many else if's and they must come before the else.
  Once an else if succeeds, none of the remaining else if's or else's will be tested.

Syntax

The syntax of an if...else if...else statement in C programming language is −

if(test expression 1)

/* Executes when the test expression 1 is true */

else if( test expression 2)

/* Executes when the test expression 2 is true */

else if(test expression 3)

/* Executes when the boolean expression 3 is true */

else

/* executes when the none of the above condition is true */

Flow Diagram:
Example

#include <stdio.h>

int main ()

/* local variable definition */

int a = 100;

/* check the boolean condition */

if( a == 10 )

/* if condition is true then print the following */

printf("Value of a is 10\n" );

else if( a == 20 )

/* if else if condition is true */

printf("Value of a is 20\n" );
 }

else if( a == 30 )

/* if else if condition is true */

printf("Value of a is 30\n" );

else

/* if none of the conditions is true */

printf("None of the values is matching\n" );

printf("Exact value of a is: %d\n", a );

return 0;

When the above code is compiled and executed, it produces the following result −

None of the values is matching

Exact value of a is: 100

Nested if statements
It is always legal in C programming to nest if-else statements, which means you can use one
if or else if statement inside another if or else if statement(s).

Syntax

The syntax for a nested if statement is as follows −

if( test expression 1)

/* Executes when the boolean expression 1 is true */

if(test expression 2)

{
 /* Executes when the test expression 2 is true */

Example

#include <stdio.h>

int main ()

/* local variable definition */

int a = 100;

int b = 200;

/* check the boolean condition */

if( a == 100 )

/* if condition is true then check the following */

if( b == 200 )

/* if condition is true then print the following */

printf("Value of a is 100 and b is 200\n" );

printf("Exact value of a is : %d\n", a );

printf("Exact value of b is : %d\n", b );

return 0;

When the above code is compiled and executed, it produces the following result −

Value of a is 100 and b is 200

Exact value of a is : 100

Exact value of b is : 200

switch statement
A switch statement allows a variable to be tested for equality against a list of values. Switch
statement is a multi-way decision control structure Each value is called a case, and the
variable being switched on is checked for each switch case.

Syntax

The syntax for a switch statement in C programming language is as follows −

switch(expression)

case constant-expression :

statement(s);

break;

case constant-expression :

statement(s);

break;

/* you can have any number of case statements */

default :

statement(s);

The following rules apply to a switch statement −

 The expression used in a switch statement must have an integral or enumerated type,
or be of a class type in which the class has a single conversion function to an integral
or enumerated type.
 You can have any number of case statements within a switch. Each case is followed
by the value to be compared to and a colon.
 The constant-expression for a case must be the same data type as the variable in the
switch, and it must be a constant or a literal.
 When the variable being switched on is equal to a case, the statements following that
case will execute until a break statement is reached.
 When a break statement is reached, the switch terminates, and the flow of control
jumps to the next line following the switch statement.
  If no break appears, the flow of control will fall through to subsequent cases until a
break is reached.
 A switch statement can have an optional default case, which must appear at the end of
the switch. The default case can be used for performing a task when none of the cases
is true.
 No break is needed in the default case.

Flow Diagram

Example

#include <stdio.h>

int main ()

/* local variable definition */

char grade = 'B';

switch(grade)

case 'A' :

printf("Outstanding !\n" );

break;

case 'B' :
 printf("Excellent !\n" );

break;

case 'C' :

printf("Well done\n" );

break;

case 'D' :

printf("You passed\n" );

break;

case 'F' :

printf("Better try again\n" );

break;

default :

printf("Invalid grade\n" );

printf("Your grade is %c\n", grade );

return 0;

When the above code is compiled and executed, it produces the following result −

Well done

Your grade is B

Nested switch statements

It is possible to have a switch as a part of the statement sequence of an outer switch. Even if
the case constants of the inner and outer switch contain common values, no conflicts will
arise.

Syntax

The syntax for a nested switch statement is as follows −

switch(ch1)
{

case 'A':

printf("This A is part of outer switch" );

switch(ch2)

case 'A':

printf("This A is part of inner switch" );

break;

case 'B':

break;

case 'B':

Example

#include <stdio.h>

int main ()

/* local variable definition */

int a = 100;

int b = 200;

switch(a)

case 100:

printf("This is part of outer switch\n", a );

switch(b)

case 200:
 printf("This is part of inner switch\n", a );

printf("Exact value of a is : %d\n", a );

printf("Exact value of b is : %d\n", b );

return 0;

When the above code is compiled and executed, it produces the following result −

This is part of outer switch

This is part of inner switch

Exact value of a is : 100

Exact value of b is : 200

ITERATIVE STTEMENTS
You may encounter situations, when a block of code needs to be executed several number of
times. In general, statements are executed sequentially: The first statement in a function is
executed first, followed by the second, and so on.

Programming languages provide various control structures that allow for more complicated
execution paths.

A loop statement allows us to execute a statement or group of statements multiple times.

Given below is the general form of a loop statement in most of the programming languages −

C programming language provides the following types of loops to handle looping

requirements.

S.No. Loop Type Description

1 while loop Repeats a statement or group
of statements while a given
condition is true. It tests the
condition before executing
the loop body.

2 for loop Executes a sequence of

statements multiple times and
abbreviates the code that
manages the loop variable.

3 do...while loop It is more like a while

statement, except that it tests
the condition at the end of
the loop body.

4 Nested loops You can use one or more

loops inside any other while,
for, or do..while loop.

while loop in C
A while loop in C programming repeatedly executes a target statement as long as a given
condition is true.

Syntax

The syntax of a while loop in C programming language is −

while(condition) {

statement(s);}
Here, statement(s) may be a single statement or a block of statements. The condition may be
any expression, and true is any nonzero value. The loop iterates while the condition is true.
When the condition becomes false, the program control passes to the line immediately
following the loop.

Flow Diagram

Here, the key point to note is that a while loop might not execute at all. When the condition is
tested and the result is false, the loop body will be skipped and the first statement after the
while loop will be executed.

Example

#include <stdio.h>

int main () {

/* local variable definition */

int a = 10;

/* while loop execution */

while( a < 20 ) {

printf("value of a: %d\n", a);

a++;

return 0;

When the above code is compiled and executed, it produces the following result −

value of a: 10

value of a: 11

value of a: 12

value of a: 13

value of a: 14

value of a: 15

value of a: 16

value of a: 17

value of a: 18

value of a: 19

for loop in C
A for loop is a repetition control structure that allows you to efficiently write a loop that
needs to execute a specific number of times.

Syntax

The syntax of a for loop in C programming language is −

for ( init; condition; increment ) {

statement(s);

Here is the flow of control in a 'for' loop −

 The init step is executed first, and only once. This step allows you to declare and
initialize any loop control variables. You are not required to put a statement here, as
long as a semicolon appears.
  Next, the condition is evaluated. If it is true, the body of the loop is executed. If it is
false, the body of the loop does not execute and the flow of control jumps to the next
statement just after the 'for' loop.
 After the body of the 'for' loop executes, the flow of control jumps back up to the
increment statement. This statement allows you to update any loop control variables.
This statement can be left blank, as long as a semicolon appears after the condition.
 The condition is now evaluated again. If it is true, the loop executes and the process
repeats itself (body of loop, then increment step, and then again condition). After the
condition becomes false, the 'for' loop terminates.

Flow Diagram

Example

#include <stdio.h>

int main () {

int a;
/* for loop execution */

for( a = 10; a < 20; a = a + 1 ){

printf("value of a: %d\n", a);

return 0;

When the above code is compiled and executed, it produces the following result −

value of a: 10

value of a: 11

value of a: 12

value of a: 13

value of a: 14

value of a: 15

value of a: 16

value of a: 17

value of a: 18

value of a: 19

do...while loop in C
Unlike for and while loops, which test the loop condition at the top of the loop, the do...while
loop in C programming checks its condition at the bottom of the loop. A do...while loop is
similar to a while loop, except the fact that it is guaranteed to execute at least one time.

Syntax

The syntax of a do...while loop in C programming language is −

do {

statement(s);

} while( condition );

Notice that the conditional expression appears at the end of the loop, so the statement(s) in
the loop executes once before the condition is tested.
If the condition is true, the flow of control jumps back up to do, and the statement(s) in the
loop executes again. This process repeats until the given condition becomes false.

Flow Diagram

Example

#include <stdio.h>

int main () {

/* local variable definition */

int a = 10;

/* do loop execution */

do {

printf("value of a: %d\n", a);

a = a + 1;

}while( a < 20 );

return 0;

When the above code is compiled and executed, it produces the following result −

value of a: 10

value of a: 11
value of a: 12

value of a: 13

value of a: 14

value of a: 15

value of a: 16

value of a: 17

value of a: 18

value of a: 19

Nested Loops in C
C programming allows to use one loop inside another loop. The following section shows a
few examples to illustrate the concept.

Syntax :

The syntax for a nested for loop statement in C is as follows −

for ( init; condition; increment ) {

for ( init; condition; increment ) {

statement(s);

statement(s);

The syntax for a nested while loop statement in C programming language is as follows −

while(condition) {

while(condition) {

statement(s);

statement(s);

}
The syntax for a nested do...while loop statement in C programming language is as follows −

do {

statement(s);

do {

statement(s);

}while( condition );

}while( condition );

A final note on loop nesting is that you can put any type of loop inside any other type of loop.

For example, a 'for' loop can be inside a 'while' loop or vice versa.

Example

The following program uses a nested for loop to find the prime numbers from 2 to 100 −

#include <stdio.h>

int main () {

/* local variable definition */

int i, j;

for(i = 2; i<100; i++) {

for(j = 2; j <= (i/j); j++)

if(!(i%j)) break; // if factor found, not prime

if(j > (i/j)) printf("%d is prime\n", i);

return 0;

When the above code is compiled and executed, it produces the following result −

2 is prime

3 is prime

5 is prime

7 is prime
11 is prime

13 is prime

17 is prime

19 is prime

23 is prime

29 is prime

31 is prime

37 is prime

41 is prime

43 is prime

47 is prime

53 is prime

59 is prime

61 is prime

67 is prime

71 is prime

73 is prime

79 is prime

83 is prime

89 is prime

97 is prime
Loop Control Statements
Loop control statements change execution from its normal sequence. When execution leaves

scope, all automatic objects that were created in that scope are destroyed.

C supports the following control statements:

S.No. Control Statement Description

1 break statement Terminates the loop or
switch statement and
transfers execution to the
statement immediately
following the loop or switch.

2 continue statement Causes the loop to skip the

remainder of its body and
immediately retest its
condition prior to
reiterating.

3 Transfers control to the

goto statement labelled statement.

break statement in C
The break statement in C programming has the following two usages −

 When a break statement is encountered inside a loop, the loop is immediately

terminated and the program control resumes at the next statement following the loop.
 It can be used to terminate a case in the switch statement (covered in the next
chapter). If you are using nested loops, the break statement will stop the execution of
the innermost loop and start executing the next line of code after the block.

Syntax

The syntax for a break statement in C is as follows −

break;
Flow Diagram

Example

#include <stdio.h>

int main () {

/* local variable definition */

int a = 10;

/* while loop execution */

while( a < 20 ) {

printf("value of a: %d\n", a);

a++;

if( a > 15) {

/* terminate the loop using break statement */

break;

return 0;
}

When the above code is compiled and executed, it produces the following result −

value of a: 10

value of a: 11

value of a: 12

value of a: 13

value of a: 14

value of a: 15

continue statement in C
The continue statement in C programming works somewhat like the break statement. Instead
of forcing termination, it forces the next iteration of the loop to take place, skipping any code
in between. For the for loop, continue statement causes the conditional test and increment
portions of the loop to execute. For the while and do...while loops, continue statement causes
the program control to pass to the conditional tests.

Syntax

The syntax for a continue statement in C is as follows −

continue;

Flow Diagram
Example

#include <stdio.h>

int main () {

/* local variable definition */

int a = 10;

/* do loop execution */

do {

if( a == 15) {

/* skip the iteration */

a = a + 1;

continue;

printf("value of a: %d\n", a);

a++;

} while( a < 20 );

return 0;

When the above code is compiled and executed, it produces the following result −

value of a: 10

value of a: 11

value of a: 12

value of a: 13

value of a: 14

value of a: 16

value of a: 17

value of a: 18

value of a: 19
goto statement in C
A goto statement in C programming provides an unconditional jump from the 'goto' to a
labeled statement in the same function.

NOTE − Use of goto statement is highly discouraged in any programming language because
it makes difficult to trace the control flow of a program, making the program hard to
understand and hard to modify. Any program that uses a goto can be rewritten to avoid them.

Syntax

The syntax for a goto statement in C is as follows −

goto label;

..

label: statement;

Here label can be any plain text except C keyword and it can be set anywhere in the C
program above or below to goto statement.

Flow Diagram

Example

#include <stdio.h>

int main () {

/* local variable definition */

int a = 10;

/* do loop execution */

LOOP:do {

if( a == 15) {

/* skip the iteration */

a = a + 1;

goto LOOP;

}
 printf("value of a: %d\n", a);

a++;

}while( a < 20 );

return 0;

When the above code is compiled and executed, it produces the following result −

value of a: 10

value of a: 11

value of a: 12

value of a: 13

value of a: 14

value of a: 16

value of a: 17

value of a: 18

value of a: 19

The Infinite Loop

A loop becomes an infinite loop if a condition never becomes false. The for loop is
traditionally used for this purpose. Since none of the three expressions that form the 'for' loop
are required, you can make an endless loop by leaving the conditional expression empty.

#include <stdio.h>

int main () {

for( ; ; ) {

printf("This loop will run forever.\n");

return 0;

}
When the conditional expression is absent, it is assumed to be true. You may have an
initialization and increment expression, but C programmers more commonly use the for(;;)
construct to signify an infinite loop.

NOTE − You can terminate an infinite loop by pressing Ctrl + C keys.