Why conditional logic is needed in Javascript - See It in Action

Why conditional logic is needed

📖 Scenario: Imagine you are building a simple program that helps a coffee shop decide what message to show customers based on the time of day.

🎯 Goal: You will create a small program that uses conditional logic to show different messages depending on the time.

📋 What You'll Learn

Create a variable to hold the current hour of the day

Create a variable to hold a message

Use conditional logic with if and else to set the message based on the hour

Print the message to the console

💡 Why This Matters

🌍 Real World

Conditional logic helps programs make choices, like showing different messages or taking different actions based on information.

💼 Career

Understanding conditional logic is essential for all programming jobs because it lets software respond to different situations.

1

DATA SETUP: Create a variable for the current hour

Create a variable called currentHour and set it to the number 9.

Javascript

// Create a variable called currentHour and set it to 9
// Your code here

Hint

Use const to create the variable and assign the number 9.

2

CONFIGURATION: Create a variable for the message

Create a variable called message and set it to an empty string "".

Javascript

const currentHour = 9;
// Create a variable called message and set it to an empty string
// Your code here

Hint

Use let because the message will change later.

3

CORE LOGIC: Use conditional logic to set the message

Use if and else statements to set message to "Good morning!" if currentHour is less than 12, otherwise set it to "Good afternoon!".

Javascript

const currentHour = 9;
let message = "";
// Use if and else to set message based on currentHour
// Your code here

Hint

Use if (currentHour < 12) to check the time and set the message accordingly.

4

OUTPUT: Print the message

Write console.log(message) to display the message in the console.

Javascript

const currentHour = 9;
let message = "";
if (currentHour < 12) {
    message = "Good morning!";
} else {
    message = "Good afternoon!";
}
// Print the message to the console
// Your code here

Hint

Use console.log(message) to show the message.

Practice

1. Why do we use conditional logic like if and else in JavaScript?

easy

A. To make decisions and run different code based on conditions

B. To repeat the same code many times

C. To store multiple values in a list

D. To create new variables

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand the purpose of conditional logic

   Conditional logic allows the program to choose between different actions depending on conditions.

2. Step 2: Compare options with this purpose

   Only To make decisions and run different code based on conditions describes making decisions based on conditions, which matches the purpose of if and else.

3. Final Answer:

   To make decisions and run different code based on conditions -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   Conditional logic = decision making [OK]

Hint: Think: Does it help choose between actions? [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Confusing conditional logic with loops
• Thinking it stores data
• Believing it only creates variables

2. Which of the following is the correct syntax to check if a variable age is greater than 18 in JavaScript?

easy

A. if (age > 18) { }

B. if (age > 18) then { }

C. if age > 18 then { }

D. if age > 18 { }

Solution

1. Step 1: Recall JavaScript if statement syntax

   JavaScript requires parentheses around the condition and curly braces for the code block: if (condition) { }.

2. Step 2: Check each option

   if (age > 18) { } matches the correct syntax. Options A and C miss parentheses or use invalid keywords like 'then'. if (age > 18) then { } incorrectly uses 'then'.

3. Final Answer:

   if (age > 18) { } -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   Correct if syntax = parentheses + braces [OK]

Hint: Remember: condition in ( ), code in { } [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Omitting parentheses around condition
• Using 'then' keyword (not in JavaScript)
• Missing curly braces

3. What will be the output of this code?

let score = 75;
if (score >= 60) {
  console.log('Pass');
} else {
  console.log('Fail');
}

medium

A. Fail

B. No output

C. Error

D. Pass

Solution

1. Step 1: Check the condition score >= 60

   The variable score is 75, which is greater than or equal to 60, so the condition is true.

2. Step 2: Determine which block runs

   Since the condition is true, the code inside the if block runs, printing 'Pass'.

3. Final Answer:

   Pass -> Option D

4. Quick Check:

   75 >= 60 is true, so output = Pass [OK]

Hint: Check if condition is true or false to pick output [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Confusing which block runs on true condition
• Thinking output is 'Fail' for true condition
• Assuming syntax error

4. Find the error in this code snippet:

let temperature = 30;
if temperature > 25 {
  console.log('Hot');
} else {
  console.log('Cold');
}

medium

A. Using else without if

B. Missing semicolon after variable declaration

C. Missing parentheses around the condition in if statement

D. Incorrect variable name

Solution

1. Step 1: Check the if statement syntax

   JavaScript requires parentheses around the condition in an if statement, but here they are missing.

2. Step 2: Verify other parts

   The variable declaration is correct with semicolon, else is correctly used, and variable name matches.

3. Final Answer:

   Missing parentheses around the condition in if statement -> Option C

4. Quick Check:

   if needs (condition) [OK]

Hint: Always put condition inside ( ) after if [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Forgetting parentheses in if condition
• Thinking semicolon is mandatory after if
• Confusing else usage

5. You want to write a program that prints 'Good morning' if the hour is less than 12, 'Good afternoon' if the hour is between 12 and 18 (inclusive), and 'Good evening' otherwise. Which code correctly uses conditional logic to do this?

hard

A. if (hour < 12) {
console.log('Good morning');
} else if (hour < 18) {
console.log('Good afternoon');
} else {
console.log('Good evening');
}

B. if (hour < 12) {
console.log('Good morning');
} else if (hour <= 18) {
console.log('Good afternoon');
} else {
console.log('Good evening');
}

C. if (hour <= 12) {
console.log('Good morning');
} else if (hour <= 18) {
console.log('Good afternoon');
} else {
console.log('Good evening');
}

D. if (hour < 12) {
console.log('Good morning');
} else if (hour > 12 && hour < 18) {
console.log('Good afternoon');
} else {
console.log('Good evening');
}

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand the conditions for each greeting

   'Good morning' if hour < 12, 'Good afternoon' if hour between 12 and 18 inclusive, else 'Good evening'.

2. Step 2: Check each option's condition ranges

   if (hour < 12) { console.log('Good morning'); } else if (hour <= 18) { console.log('Good afternoon'); } else { console.log('Good evening'); } correctly uses hour < 12 for morning, hour <= 18 for afternoon (including 12 and 18), else evening. Others miss inclusive 12 or 18 or have wrong ranges.

3. Final Answer:

   if (hour < 12) { console.log('Good morning'); } else if (hour <= 18) { console.log('Good afternoon'); } else { console.log('Good evening'); } -> Option B

4. Quick Check:

   Inclusive afternoon means <= 18, so if (hour < 12) { console.log('Good morning'); } else if (hour <= 18) { console.log('Good afternoon'); } else { console.log('Good evening'); } fits [OK]

Hint: Check if conditions cover all cases without gaps [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Using < instead of <= for inclusive ranges
• Overlapping or missing ranges
• Wrong logical operators in conditions