Programming and Problem Solving with Java

4.3 The if Statement | 171

Braces and Blocks

Java programmers use different styles when it comes to locating the left brace of a block. The

style used in this book puts the left and right braces directly below the words ifand else, with

each brace on its own line:

if(n >= 2 )

{

alpha = 5 ;

beta = 8 ;

}

else

{

alpha = 23 ;

beta = 12 ;

}

Another popular style is to place the statements following ifand elseon the same line as

the left brace; the right braces still line up directly below the left braces.

if(n >= 2 )

{ alpha = 5 ;

beta = 8 ;

}

else

{ alpha = 23 ;

beta = 12 ;

}

It makes no difference to the Java compiler which style you use (and other styles exist as

well, such as placing the left braces at the ends of the lines containing ifand else). It’s a mat-

ter of personal preference. Whichever style you use, though, you should maintain it throughout

the entire application. Inconsistency can confuse a person reading your code and give the im-

pression of carelessness.

to skip a sequence of instructions if a certain condition isn’t met. You could do so by leaving
the elsebranch empty, using only the null statement:

if (a <= b)
c = 20;
else
;