If Expression link

There can be multiple conditional constructs using an if statement.

• If expression

• If…else expression

• If…else if…else expression

• Nested if expression

• Shorthand if expression

Let’s discuss each one of them in detail:-

If Expression link

If expression takes a condition. If the condition within the if expression evaluates to be true, then the block of code is executed.

• Syntax The general syntax is:

Illustration link

The following flow chart explains the concept of an if statement:

  fn main() {
      //define a variable  
      let learn_language = "Rust";
      // if construct 
      if learn_language == "Rust" { 
         println!("You are learning Rust language!");
      }
}
  

output:-

  You are learning Rust language!
  

If…else Expression link

In an if..else construct, if the condition within the if expression evaluates to be false, then the statement within the else block is executed.

• Syntax

The general syntax is:

Illustration link

The following flow chart explains the concept of an if..else statement:

  fn main() {
    //define a variable 
    let learn_language = "Rust";
    // if else construct 
    if learn_language == "Rust" { 
        println!("You are learning Rust language!");
    }
    else {
      println!("You are learning some other language!");
    } 
}
  

Output

  You are learning Rust language!
  

if…else if…else Expression link

If there are multiple conditions to be checked, then if..else if..else construct is used.

Syntax The general syntax is:

llustration link

The following flow chart explains the concept of an if..else if..else expression:

  fn main() {
      //define a variable 
      let learn_language="Rust";
      // if..elseif..else construct 
      if learn_language == "Rust" { 
         println!("You are learning Rust language!");
      }
      else if learn_language == "Java" { 
         println!("You are learning Java language!");
      }
      else {
         println!("You are learning some other language!");
      } 
}
  

Output

  You are learning Rust language!
  

Nested if Expression link

An if expression inside the body of another if expression is referred to as a nested if expression.

• Syntax An if construct is enclosed within an if construct. The general syntax is:

Note: The nested if expression can also be written with a AND expression in an if.

  if condition1 && condition2 
{
 //statement
}
  

This is true only if the second if statement is the only thing inside the first if.

Illustration link

The following flow chart explains the concept of a nested if statement .

Note: There can be as many levels of nesting as you want.

  fn main() {
    //define a variable 
    let learn_language1 = "Rust";
    let learn_language2 = "Java";
    // outer if statement
    if learn_language1 == "Rust" {  // inner if statement
        if learn_language2 == "Java"{
              println!("You are learning Rust and Java language!");
        }
    }
    else {
      println!("You are learning some other language!");
    } 
}
  

output:-

  You are learning Rust and Java language!
  

Shorthand if link

Instead of writing a lengthy if-else construct, we can use a shorthand if.

Syntax The general syntax is:

Note: This is similar to a ternary operator in languages like C and C++.

  fn main() {
   //define a variable  
   let learn_language = "Rust";
   // short hand construct
   let res= if learn_language == "Rust" {"You are learning Rust language!"} else {"You are learning some other language!"};
   println!("{}", res);
}
  

Note: Expressions can return a value, unlike statements. Recall that the semicolon turns any expression into a statement. It throws away its value and returns a unit () instead.

  fn main() {
    let x = "Rust";

    let y: bool = if x == "Rust" { true } else { false };

    // let z: bool = if x == "Rust" { true; } else { false; };

    println!("x:{}", x);
    println!("y:{}", y);

}
  

Note: Uncommenting line 6 in the above code gives an error ❌ since we are trying to convert an expression to a statement and hence not returning a value.

Quiz link