FOP
4.1 IF Statement
4.1.1 Simple if Statement
An if statement consists of a Boolean expression followed by one or more statements.
The syntax of an 'if' statement in C programming language is −
if(boolean_expression) {
/* statement(s) will execute if the boolean expression is true */
}
If the Boolean expression evaluates to true, then the block of code inside the 'if' statement will
be executed. If the Boolean 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 of if
Example
Page 1 of 21
FOP
void main () {
int a = 10;
if( a < 20 ) {
printf("a is less than 20\n" );
printf("value of a is : %d\n", a);
Output :
a is less than 20
value of a is : 10
4.1.2 if…else statement
An if statement can be followed by an optional else statement, which executes when the
Boolean expression is false.
The syntax of an 'if…else' statement in C programming language is −
if(boolean_expression) {
/* statement(s) will execute if the boolean expression is true */
}
Else {
/* statement(s) will execute if the boolean expression is false */
}
If the Boolean expression evaluates to true, then the block of code inside the 'if' statement will
be executed. If the Boolean expression evaluates to false, then the block of code inside the 'else'
statement will be executed.
Page 2 of 21
FOP
Example
void main () {
int a = 21;
if( a < 20 ) {
printf("a is less than 20\n" );
Else {
printf("a is greater than or equal to 20\n" );
printf("value of a is : %d\n", a);
Output :
a is greater than or equal to 20
value of a is : 10
4.1.3 Nested if statement
A nested if statements for used when we want to check for a secondary condition if the first condition
executes as true. For this, we can have an if-else statement inside of another if-else statement.
The syntax of an 'if…else' statement in C programming language is −
if(boolean_expression1) {
/* statement(s) will execute if the boolean expression is true */
Page 3 of 21
FOP
if(boolean_expression2) {
/* statement(s) will execute if the boolean expression1 is true */
}
}
Else {
/* statement(s) will execute if the boolean expression1 is false */
}
Example
void main () {
int a = 11;
if( a < 20 ) {
if(a>10) {
printf("a is less than 20 and greater than 10 \n" );
Else {
printf("a is less than 10 \n" );
Else {
printf("a is greater than or equal to 20\n" );
printf("value of a is : %d\n", a);
Output :
a is less than 20 and greater than 10
value of a is : 11
LOOPs
Page 4 of 21
FOP
4.2. while loop
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
Page 5 of 21
FOP
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;
OUTPUT :
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
4.2 do…while loop
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.
Page 6 of 21
FOP
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;
Page 7 of 21
FOP
}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
4.3 for loop
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.
Page 8 of 21
FOP
• 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);
Page 9 of 21
FOP
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);
Page 10 of 21
FOP
}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
Page 11 of 21
FOP
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
4.5 break and continue statement
break Statement
The break statement terminates the loop (for, while and do...while loop) immediately when it is
encountered. The break statement is used with decision making statement such as if...else.
Syntax of break statement
break;
Flowchart of break statement
Page 12 of 21
FOP
Example of break statement
// Program to calculate the sum of maximum of 10 numbers
// Calculates sum until user enters positive number
# include <stdio.h>
int main()
{
int i;
double number, sum = 0.0;
for(i=1; i <= 10; ++i)
{
printf("Enter a n%d: ",i);
scanf("%lf",&number);
// If user enters negative number, loop is terminated
if(number < 0.0)
{
Page 13 of 21
FOP
break;
}
sum += number; // sum = sum + number;
}
printf("Sum = %.2lf",sum);
return 0;
}
Output
Enter a n1: 2.4
Enter a n2: 4.5
Enter a n3: 3.4
Enter a n4: -3
Sum = 10.30
This program calculates the sum of maximum of 10 numbers. It's because, when the user enters
negative number, the break statement is executed and loop is terminated.
In C programming, break statement is also used with switch...case statement.
continue Statement
The continue statement skips some statements inside the loop. The continue statement is used with
decision making statement such as if...else.
Page 14 of 21
FOP
Syntax of continue Statement
continue;
Flowchart of continue Statement
Example of continue statement
// Program to calculate sum of maximum of 10 numbers
// Negative numbers are skipped from calculation
# include <stdio.h>
int main()
{
Page 15 of 21
FOP
int i;
double number, sum = 0.0;
for(i=1; i <= 10; ++i)
{
printf("Enter a n%d: ",i);
scanf("%lf",&number);
// If user enters negative number, loop is terminated
if(number < 0.0)
{
continue;
}
sum += number; // sum = sum + number;
}
printf("Sum = %.2lf",sum);
return 0;
}
Output
Enter a n1: 1.1
Enter a n2: 2.2
Enter a n3: 5.5
Enter a n4: 4.4
Enter a n5: -3.4
Enter a n6: -45.5
Page 16 of 21
FOP
Enter a n7: 34.5
Enter a n8: -4.2
Enter a n9: -1000
Enter a n10: 12
Sum = 59.70
In the program, when the user enters positive number, the sum is calculated using sum +=
number; statement.
When the user enters negative number, the continue statement is executed and skips the negative
number from calculation.
4.6 switch statement
A switch statement allows a variable to be tested for equality against a list of values. 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; /* optional */
Page 17 of 21
FOP
case constant-expression :
statement(s);
break; /* optional */
/* you can have any number of case statements */
default : /* Optional */
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.
• Not every case needs to contain a break. 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.
Page 18 of 21
FOP
Flow Diagram
Example
#include <stdio.h>
int main () {
/* local variable definition */
char grade = 'B';
switch(grade) {
case 'A' :
printf("Excellent!\n" );
break;
case 'B' :
case 'C' :
printf("Well done\n" );
Page 19 of 21
FOP
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': /* case code */
}
break;
Page 20 of 21
FOP
case 'B': /* case code */
}
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
Page 21 of 21
