Presented by UFMFGT-15-1: Programming for Engineers

Tom Knowles Week 14: Selection Statements

Code: XX-XX-XX

15 February, 2024
This session
• Comparing variables
o Relational operators
o Equality operators
o Logical operators

• Selection statements
o Conditional operator

• Flow control
Why do we need Selection Statements?
• You've already covered the basics of writing programs in C
o Making variables
o Assignments
o Data types
o Operators

• Sometimes we want to make choices within the program, or check inputs from an external
source (function, file, library)
o Multiple 'paths' for the program to take

• This choosing is mediated by selection (conditional) statements

New Operators
Equality Relational Logical

> < || &&

== !=
>= <= !
• Most compare the two variables on either side of the operator
• Output 1 (true) or 0 (false); regular numbers
• Can be combined together
Equality Operators
Initialisation Expression True/False
int a = 5;
int b = 5;
a == b 1
int a = 4;
int b = 5;
a == b 0
int a = 5;
int b = 5;
a != b 0
int a = 4;
int b = 5;
a != b 1
 Equality Operators

Operator Example Output Explanation

int a = 1; a contains the same value as b;
== int b = 1; 1 the result is therefore 1 (true)

int a = 3; a does not contain the same

!= int b = 1; 1 value as b;
the result is therefore 1 (true)
Relational Operators
Initialisation Expression True/False
int a = 4; a > b 0
int b = 5;
int a = 4; a < b 1
int b = 5;
int a = 4; b > a 1
int b = 5;
int a = 4; b < a 0
int b = 5;
Relational Operators
Initialisation Expression True/False
int a = 4; a >= b 0
int b = 5;
int a = 4; a <= b 1
int b = 5;
int a = 5; a >= b 1
int b = 5;
int a = 5; a <= b 1
int b = 5;
 Relational Operators
Operator Example Output Explanation
int a = 3; a is larger than b;

> int b = 1; 1 the result is therefore 1 (true)

int a = 3; a is not smaller than b; the result

< int b = 1; 0 is therefore 0 (false)

int a = 4; a is not greater than, but is equal

>= int b = 4; 1 to b;
the result is therefore 1 (true)

int a = 6; a is not smaller than or equal

<= int b = 2; 0 to b;
the result is therefore 0 (false)
Logical Operators
Initialisation Expression True/False
int a = 0;
int b = 0;
a || b 0
int a = 0;
int b = 1;
a || b 1
int a = 1;
int b = 0;
a || b 1
int a = 1;
int b = 1;
a || b 1
Logical Operators
Initialisation Expression True/False
int a = 0;
int b = 0;
a && b 0
int a = 0;
int b = 1;
a && b 0
int a = 1;
int b = 0;
a && b 0
int a = 1;
int b = 1;
a && b 1
Logical Operators
Initialisation Expression True/False
int a = 0;
int b = 0;
!(a && b) 1
int a = 0;
int b = 1;
!(a || b) 0
int a = 4;
int b = 5;
!(a > b) 1
int a = 5;
int b = 5;
!(a == b) 0
 Logical Operators
Operator Example Output Explanation
int a = 1; Either a OR b is true;
|| int b = 0; 1 the result is therefore 1 (true)

int a = 1; a is true, but b is not; the result is

therefore 0 (false)
&& int b = 0; 0

int a = 1; a OR b is true;
! int b = 0;
this is then inverted.
The result is therefore 0 (false)
0
||
 Caveats
• Be careful with comparing floating point
numbers float a;
/**
o Imprecision can cause unexpected several operations on a later...
inequalities **/
int b = 1;

1.000000000000000099 printf(a);
1 printf(b);

result = a == b;

false printf(result);'
 Casting
• One way to overcome this is by casting one
type to another float a;
/**
o A fair comparison between variables several operations on a later...
o Inputs can be validated **/
int b = 1;

1.0000000000000000 printf(a);
1 printf(b);

int casted_a = (int)a

result = casted_a == b;

true printf(result);
Casting
• Casting is also done implicitly via
'promotion' float a = 3.4;
int b = 1;
• The compiler takes care of this
• Precision maintained if promoted, precision float result;
lost if demoted
o Will likely need an explicit cast result = a + b;

float a = 3.4;
int b = 1;

int result;

result = a + b;
if statements // Create new variables to store
input
int a = 0;
• Used to choose whether to run a block of
int b = 0;
code or not float result = 0;
• A very common use of these operators
• The if keyword is followed by an expression // Store user input
in brackets scanf('%d', &a);
scanf('%d', &b);
o The expression should evaluate to true or
false (1 or 0) if (b != 0) {
• Curly braces are not required, but
recommended for legible code result = a / b;

}
if statements // Create new variables to store
input
int a = 0;
• We can add 'clauses' to this statement to
int b = 0;
account for other outcomes float result = 0;
• If we want to do something else when the
condition is not met, we have two options: // Store user input
o else scanf('%d', &a);
scanf('%d', &b);
o else if
• Here they are used interchangeably: if (b != 0) {

result = a / b;
} else {
} else if (b == 0) {
printf("Denominator cannot be
0") printf("Denominator cannot be
0")
}
}
if statements if (b != 0) {

printf("Denominator cannot be
• These clauses can be chained together as
0")
much as required
• They can also be nested, but be aware of if (a > 0) {
readability; 'dangling else'
result = a / b;
if (a > 0) {
} else {
result = a / b;
result = -a / b;
} else if (a < 0) {
}
result = -a / b;
Valid code, but is difficult to
} else {
read and debug
printf("Denominator cannot be
0")
if statements if (b != 0) {

printf("Denominator cannot be
• These clauses can be chained together as
0")
much as required
• They can also be nested, but be aware of if (a > 0) {
readability; 'dangling else'
result = a / b;
if (a > 0) {
} else {
result = a / b;
result = -a / b;
} else if (a < 0) {
}
result = -a / b;
Valid code, and easy to
} else {
interpret
printf("Denominator cannot be
0")
Conditional Operator if (test == 1) if (test == 0)

• A piece of 'synactic sugar'; a shortcut

• This can replace a full if statement for
test ? value : value

simple cases int number;

• For more complex use cases, stick with the int isBig;
full if statement
• Both these code snippets are equivalent scanf(%d, &number);

if (number > 100) {

int number;
int isBig; isBig = 1;

scanf(%d, &number); } else {

isBig = number > 100 ? 1 : 0; isBig = 0;

}
switch statements // Create the controlling variable
char meal[10];
• Like an if statement, but with several
// User chooses the value
specific cases scanf('%9s', &meal);
• Checks the value of a variable, rather than
the truth of an expression switch (meal) {
• Useful when we have a large number of case 'salad':
serveSalad(); // Defined
simple choices, with no nesting required
prior
• Examples: case 'chicken':
o User interface serveChicken();
o Restaurant menu case 'steak':
serveSteak();
case 'fish':
serveFish();
}
switch statements // Create the controlling variable
char meal[10];
• If the user's choice isn't accounted for, we
// User chooses the value
can catch this using a default scanf('%9s', &meal);
• Very similar to an else
switch (meal) {
case 'salad':
serveSalad(); // Defined
prior
case 'chicken':
serveChicken();
case 'steak':
serveSteak();
case 'fish':
serveFish();
default:
printf("Valid items
only");
scanf('%9s', &meal);
}
switch cascading // Create the controlling variable
int uiCommand;
• A switch statement will cascade to all
// Prompt; user chooses the option
subsequent cases unless told otherwise printf("Select option from menu")
o This is useful for catching multiple scanf('%d', &uiCommand);
potential cases at once, but can be
unintuitive switch (uiCommand) {
• The break statement interrupts this, and case 0:
newGame(); // Defined
exits the switch statement immediately prior

case 1:
Select option from menu loadGame();
1
cases 1 and 2 will case 2:
options();

be triggered }
break statements // Create the controlling variable
int uiCommand;
• Adding break statements makes for more
// Prompt; user chooses the option
intuitive behaviour printf("Select option from menu")
scanf('%d', &uiCommand);

switch (uiCommand) {
case 0:
newGame(); // Defined
prior
break;
case 1:
Select option from menu loadGame();
0 break;

only case 0 will case 2:

options();

be triggered }
break;
switch statements // Create the controlling variable
int number;
• There are valid use cases for allowing fall-
// User enters number 0-9
through, but they are rare scanf('%d', &number);
• This behaviour has been changed in a lot of
C-inspired languages switch (number) {
case 0:
case 2:
case 4:
case 6:
case 8:
printf("Number is even")
break;
default:
printf("Number is odd")
break;
}
Caveats int a = 5;
int readInput(void);
• Controlling variables must be integers or
switch (command) {
strings case 0:
o String characters can be interpreted as // case body
integers
• Case statements can additionally only work case 1 + 1:
// case body
with 'constant expressions'. This means:
o Only fixed integers, operations on fixed case 5 / 4:
numbers, or things that represent them // case body
(characters)
o No variables case a:
// case body
o No function calls
• Case statements can have bodies using all of case readInput():
these things, however // case body
}
Caveats int a = 5;
int readInput(void);
• case 0
switch (command) {
o 0 is a fixed integer, so is fine case 0:
// case body
• case 1 + 1
o Evaluates to a fixed integer, so is fine case 1 + 1:
// case body

• case 5 / 4 case 5 / 4:
o Evaluates to a float, so is forbidden // case body

case a:
• case a // case body
o Is a variable, so is forbidden
case readInput():
// case body
• case readInput()
}
o Is a function, so is forbidden
Summary
• New operators
o Relational Attendance Code:
o Equality
o Logical

XX-XX-XX
o Conditional

• Select statements
o if
o switch

• Caveats and pitfalls

• Use cases