If–else statement in Java - Step-by-Step Execution

Concept Flow - If–else statement

Start

↓

Evaluate condition

↓

Execute if-block

↓

End if-block

↓

Execute else-block

↓

End else-block

↓

Continue with rest of program

The program checks a condition. If true, it runs the 'if' part; if false, it runs the 'else' part. Then it continues.

Execution Sample

Java

int x = 10;
if (x > 5) {
    System.out.println("x is greater than 5");
} else {
    System.out.println("x is 5 or less");
}

Checks if x is greater than 5 and prints a message accordingly.

Execution Table

Step	Condition (x > 5)	Result	Branch Taken	Output
1	10 > 5	true	if-block	x is greater than 5
2	End of if–else	-	-	Program continues

💡 Condition true, executed if-block, then program continues

Variable Tracker

Variable	Start	After Condition Check	Final
x	10	10	10

Key Moments - 2 Insights

Why does the program not run the else-block when x is 10?

Because the condition x > 5 is true (see execution_table step 1), so only the if-block runs.

What happens if the condition is false?

The program skips the if-block and runs the else-block instead, as shown in the concept flow.

Visual Quiz - 3 Questions

Look at the execution table, what is the output at step 1?

A "x is greater than 5"

B "x is 5 or less"

C No output

D Error

💡 Hint

Check the 'Output' column in execution_table row 1.

At which step does the program decide which branch to take?

A Step 2

B Before Step 1

C Step 1

D After Step 2

💡 Hint

Look at the 'Condition' and 'Branch Taken' columns in execution_table.

If x was 3 instead of 10, which branch would run?

A if-block

B else-block

C Both if and else blocks

D Neither block

💡 Hint

Refer to the concept_flow and key_moments about condition false case.

Concept Snapshot

if (condition) {
  // code runs if condition true
} else {
  // code runs if condition false
}
Checks condition once, runs one branch only.

Full Transcript

This example shows how an if–else statement works in Java. The program sets x to 10. It checks if x is greater than 5. Since 10 is greater than 5, it runs the code inside the if-block and prints "x is greater than 5". It skips the else-block. Then the program continues. If the condition was false, it would run the else-block instead. This way, the program chooses one path based on the condition.