C# Control Structures

This chapter will detail control structures in C#, including conditional statements, loop statements, and jump statements, which are the foundation of program flow control.

Conditional Statements

if Statement

Basic if Statement

csharp

// Basic syntax
if (condition)
{
    // Code executed when condition is true
}

// Example
int age = 18;
if (age >= 18)
{
    Console.WriteLine("You are an adult");
}

// Single-line statements can omit braces (not recommended)
if (age >= 18)
    Console.WriteLine("You are an adult");

if-else Statement

csharp

int score = 85;

if (score >= 90)
{
    Console.WriteLine("Excellent");
}
else if (score >= 80)
{
    Console.WriteLine("Good");
}
else if (score >= 70)
{
    Console.WriteLine("Average");
}
else if (score >= 60)
{
    Console.WriteLine("Pass");
}
else
{
    Console.WriteLine("Fail");
}

Nested if Statements

csharp

int age = 20;
bool hasLicense = true;

if (age >= 18)
{
    if (hasLicense)
    {
        Console.WriteLine("You can drive");
    }
    else
    {
        Console.WriteLine("You need a license to drive");
    }
}
else
{
    Console.WriteLine("You are too young to drive");
}

switch Statement

Basic switch

csharp

int dayOfWeek = 3;

switch (dayOfWeek)
{
    case 1:
        Console.WriteLine("Monday");
        break;
    case 2:
        Console.WriteLine("Tuesday");
        break;
    case 3:
        Console.WriteLine("Wednesday");
        break;
    case 4:
        Console.WriteLine("Thursday");
        break;
    case 5:
        Console.WriteLine("Friday");
        break;
    case 6:
        Console.WriteLine("Saturday");
        break;
    case 7:
        Console.WriteLine("Sunday");
        break;
    default:
        Console.WriteLine("Invalid day");
        break;
}

switch with Multiple Cases

csharp

int month = 2;

switch (month)
{
    case 12:
    case 1:
    case 2:
        Console.WriteLine("Winter");
        break;
    case 3:
    case 4:
    case 5:
        Console.WriteLine("Spring");
        break;
    case 6:
    case 7:
    case 8:
        Console.WriteLine("Summer");
        break;
    case 9:
    case 10:
    case 11:
        Console.WriteLine("Fall");
        break;
}

switch Expression (C# 8.0+)

csharp

string grade = "B";

string message = grade switch
{
    "A" => "Excellent",
    "B" => "Good",
    "C" => "Average",
    "D" => "Below Average",
    "F" => "Fail",
    _ => "Invalid Grade"
};

Console.WriteLine(message);

Loop Statements

while Loop

csharp

// Basic while loop
int count = 0;
while (count < 5)
{
    Console.WriteLine($"Count: {count}");
    count++;
}

// Infinite loop with break condition
while (true)
{
    Console.WriteLine("Enter 'quit' to exit");
    string input = Console.ReadLine();
    if (input == "quit")
        break;
}

do-while Loop

csharp

// do-while loop (executes at least once)
int number;
do
{
    Console.Write("Enter a positive number: ");
    number = int.Parse(Console.ReadLine());
} while (number <= 0);

Console.WriteLine($"You entered: {number}");

for Loop

csharp

// Basic for loop
for (int i = 0; i < 10; i++)
{
    Console.WriteLine($"Iteration: {i}");
}

// for loop with multiple variables
for (int i = 0, j = 10; i < j; i++, j--)
{
    Console.WriteLine($"i: {i}, j: {j}");
}

// Nested for loops
for (int row = 0; row < 3; row++)
{
    for (int col = 0; col < 3; col++)
    {
        Console.Write($"[{row},{col}] ");
    }
    Console.WriteLine();
}

foreach Loop

csharp

// foreach with array
int[] numbers = { 10, 20, 30, 40, 50 };
foreach (int number in numbers)
{
    Console.WriteLine($"Number: {number}");
}

// foreach with list
List<string> fruits = new List<string> { "Apple", "Banana", "Orange" };
foreach (string fruit in fruits)
{
    Console.WriteLine($"Fruit: {fruit}");
}

// foreach with string
string text = "Hello World";
foreach (char character in text)
{
    Console.WriteLine($"Character: {character}");
}

Jump Statements

break Statement

csharp

// break in loops
for (int i = 0; i < 10; i++)
{
    if (i == 5)
        break;  // Exit loop when i equals 5
    Console.WriteLine($"i: {i}");
}

// break in switch
int choice = 2;
switch (choice)
{
    case 1:
        Console.WriteLine("Option 1");
        break;
    case 2:
        Console.WriteLine("Option 2");
        break;  // Exit switch
    default:
        Console.WriteLine("Invalid option");
        break;
}

continue Statement

csharp

// continue in loops
for (int i = 0; i < 10; i++)
{
    if (i % 2 == 0)
        continue;  // Skip even numbers
    Console.WriteLine($"Odd number: {i}");
}

// continue with while
int num = 0;
while (num < 10)
{
    num++;
    if (num % 3 == 0)
        continue;  // Skip multiples of 3
    Console.WriteLine($"Not divisible by 3: {num}");
}

goto Statement (Use Sparingly)

csharp

// goto example (not recommended for general use)
int i = 0;
start:
Console.WriteLine($"i: {i}");
i++;

if (i < 5)
    goto start;

Console.WriteLine("Loop finished");

Pattern Matching (C# 7.0+)

Type Pattern

csharp

object obj = "Hello World";

switch (obj)
{
    case string s:
        Console.WriteLine($"String: {s}");
        break;
    case int i:
        Console.WriteLine($"Integer: {i}");
        break;
    case double d:
        Console.WriteLine($"Double: {d}");
        break;
    default:
        Console.WriteLine("Unknown type");
        break;
}

Constant Pattern

csharp

int value = 42;

switch (value)
{
    case 0:
        Console.WriteLine("Zero");
        break;
    case 1:
        Console.WriteLine("One");
        break;
    case 42:
        Console.WriteLine("The answer to everything");
        break;
    default:
        Console.WriteLine("Other number");
        break;
}

Relational Pattern

csharp

int score = 85;

switch (score)
{
    case < 60:
        Console.WriteLine("Fail");
        break;
    case >= 60 and < 70:
        Console.WriteLine("Pass");
        break;
    case >= 70 and < 80:
        Console.WriteLine("Good");
        break;
    case >= 80 and < 90:
        Console.WriteLine("Very Good");
        break;
    case >= 90:
        Console.WriteLine("Excellent");
        break;
}

Advanced Control Structures

Ternary Operator

csharp

// Basic ternary operator
int age = 18;
string message = age >= 18 ? "Adult" : "Minor";
Console.WriteLine(message);

// Nested ternary (not recommended for complex logic)
int score = 75;
string grade = score >= 90 ? "A" :
              score >= 80 ? "B" :
              score >= 70 ? "C" :
              score >= 60 ? "D" : "F";
Console.WriteLine($"Grade: {grade}");

Null-Coalescing Operator

csharp

string name = null;
string displayName = name ?? "Guest";
Console.WriteLine($"Hello, {displayName}");

// With nullable value types
int? age = null;
int userAge = age ?? 18;
Console.WriteLine($"Age: {userAge}");

Null-Conditional Operator

csharp

// Traditional null checking
string text = null;
int length = 0;
if (text != null)
{
    length = text.Length;
}

// Using null-conditional operator
int length2 = text?.Length ?? 0;
Console.WriteLine($"Length: {length2}");

// Chaining null-conditional
Person person = null;
string cityName = person?.Address?.City ?? "Unknown";
Console.WriteLine($"City: {cityName}");

Practical Examples

Number Guessing Game

csharp

Random random = new Random();
int targetNumber = random.Next(1, 100);
int guess = 0;
int attempts = 0;

Console.WriteLine("Guess the number between 1 and 100!");

while (guess != targetNumber)
{
    Console.Write("Enter your guess: ");
    string input = Console.ReadLine();
    
    if (int.TryParse(input, out guess))
    {
        attempts++;
        
        if (guess < targetNumber)
            Console.WriteLine("Too low!");
        else if (guess > targetNumber)
            Console.WriteLine("Too high!");
        else
            Console.WriteLine($"Congratulations! You guessed it in {attempts} attempts!");
    }
    else
    {
        Console.WriteLine("Please enter a valid number.");
    }
}

csharp

while (true)
{
    Console.WriteLine("=== Main Menu ===");
    Console.WriteLine("1. Add User");
    Console.WriteLine("2. View Users");
    Console.WriteLine("3. Exit");
    Console.Write("Enter your choice: ");
    
    string choice = Console.ReadLine();
    
    switch (choice)
    {
        case "1":
            Console.WriteLine("Adding user...");
            break;
        case "2":
            Console.WriteLine("Viewing users...");
            break;
        case "3":
            Console.WriteLine("Exiting...");
            return; // Exit program
        default:
            Console.WriteLine("Invalid choice. Please try again.");
            break;
    }
    
    Console.WriteLine(); // Empty line for spacing
}

Data Validation Loop

csharp

int age;
do
{
    Console.Write("Enter your age (1-120): ");
    string input = Console.ReadLine();
    
    if (int.TryParse(input, out age) && age >= 1 && age <= 120)
    {
        break; // Valid input, exit loop
    }
    
    Console.WriteLine("Invalid age. Please enter a number between 1 and 120.");
} while (true);

Console.WriteLine($"Your age is: {age}");

Best Practices

Use Appropriate Control Structures

csharp

// Good: Use switch for multiple discrete values
string dayType = dayOfWeek switch
{
    1 or 2 or 3 or 4 or 5 => "Weekday",
    6 or 7 => "Weekend",
    _ => "Invalid"
};

// Avoid: Long if-else chains for the same purpose

Keep Conditions Simple

csharp

// Good: Break complex conditions into variables
bool isAdult = age >= 18;
bool hasLicense = licenseNumber != null;
bool canDrive = isAdult && hasLicense;

if (canDrive)
{
    Console.WriteLine("You can drive");
}

// Avoid: Complex inline conditions

Use Meaningful Variable Names

csharp

// Good: Descriptive names
int numberOfStudents = 30;
bool isEligibleForDiscount = age >= 65;

// Avoid: Cryptic names
int n = 30;
bool f = age >= 65;

Summary

In this chapter, you learned:

Conditional statements: if, if-else, switch
Loop statements: while, do-while, for, foreach
Jump statements: break, continue, goto
Pattern matching features
Advanced operators: ternary, null-coalescing, null-conditional
Practical examples and best practices

Control structures are essential for creating dynamic and responsive programs. In the next chapter, we'll explore methods and functions to organize and reuse code effectively.

C# Control Structures ​

Conditional Statements ​

if Statement ​

Basic if Statement ​

if-else Statement ​

Nested if Statements ​

switch Statement ​

Basic switch ​

switch with Multiple Cases ​

switch Expression (C# 8.0+) ​

Loop Statements ​

while Loop ​

do-while Loop ​

for Loop ​

foreach Loop ​

Jump Statements ​

break Statement ​

continue Statement ​

goto Statement (Use Sparingly) ​

Pattern Matching (C# 7.0+) ​

Type Pattern ​

Constant Pattern ​

Relational Pattern ​

Advanced Control Structures ​

Ternary Operator ​

Null-Coalescing Operator ​

Null-Conditional Operator ​

Practical Examples ​

Number Guessing Game ​

Menu System ​

Data Validation Loop ​

Best Practices ​

Use Appropriate Control Structures ​

Keep Conditions Simple ​

Use Meaningful Variable Names ​

Summary ​

C# Control Structures

Conditional Statements

if Statement

Basic if Statement

if-else Statement

Nested if Statements

switch Statement

Basic switch

switch with Multiple Cases

switch Expression (C# 8.0+)

Loop Statements

while Loop

do-while Loop

for Loop

foreach Loop

Jump Statements

break Statement

continue Statement

goto Statement (Use Sparingly)

Pattern Matching (C# 7.0+)

Type Pattern

Constant Pattern

Relational Pattern

Advanced Control Structures

Ternary Operator

Null-Coalescing Operator

Null-Conditional Operator

Practical Examples

Number Guessing Game

Menu System

Data Validation Loop

Best Practices

Use Appropriate Control Structures

Keep Conditions Simple

Use Meaningful Variable Names

Summary