else and else if

Learn else and else if chains for alternative cases.

else and else if

else adds a block that runs when an if condition is false. With else if you chain another condition to check.

int score = 75;
if (score >= 85) {
    printf("Excellent\n");
} else if (score >= 70) {
    printf("Good\n");
} else {
    printf("Pass\n");
}

Order matters: the first true condition's block runs, the rest is skipped. If none is true, the else block runs. Here 75 >= 85 is false, 75 >= 70 is true; the output is Good.

Logical operators

To combine several conditions in a single if, use && (and), || (or) and ! (not).

int age = 20;
int has_id = 1;
if (age >= 18 && has_id) {
    printf("Allowed\n");
}

&& is true when both sides are true. || is true when at least one side is true. ! flips true to false. With these you can write complex conditions in a clean way.

Exercise Letter grades

Write a C program. Declare int score = 75;. Use if, else if and else to print the letter grade: printf("A\n"); if score >= 85, printf("B\n"); if score >= 70, otherwise printf("C\n");. Put #include <stdio.h> at the top.

Show example solution

#include <stdio.h>

int main(void) {
    int score = 75;
    if (score >= 85) {
        printf("A\n");
    } else if (score >= 70) {
        printf("B\n");
    } else {
        printf("C\n");
    }
    return 0;
}

Test yourself

Complete the else if chain

if (score >= 85) {
    printf("A");
} ____ (score >= 70) {
    printf("Good");
}

Show answer

if (score >= 85) {
    printf("A");
} else if (score >= 70) {
    printf("Good");
}

For score=75 which block runs?
```
if (score >= 85) { A }
else if (score >= 70) { B }
else { C }
```
- Block A
- Block B
- Block C
- All three
Show answer

Block B — 75 >= 85 is false, 75 >= 70 is true; B runs.
Match the logical operators

&&

And
||

Or
!

Not
else

Otherwise

Next lesson: The switch statement

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