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Flow control

In this chapter, we're looking to learn about constructs if and else to control the flow of your application.

Introduction

This chapter will cover:

  • Working with Boolean logic.
  • Create Boolean data.
  • Use constructs like if, else if and else.

What is flow control

Using Boolean logic in your program is about creating different execution paths through your code?

What does that mean?

It means there's more than one way that your program can run depending on what data you feed it.

Ok, can you show me?

Sure, consider this code:

printMessage := true

if printMessage {
  fmt.Println("Message")
}

If printMessage is true, the string "Message" will print. If the value is false, nothing will print.

Ok, I think I get it.

The if construct

You've seen an example already about code that runs or doesn't run depending on a value. The if construct is what makes that possible. An if take a Boolean expression like so:

if true {
  // statements here will always run
}

Using a Boolean variable

When you use a Boolean value as part of your Boolean expression, it needs to be evaluated. Here's code showing just that:

accountBalance = 100
accountCredit = 200
if accountBalance + accountCredit > 0 {
  fmt.Println("You have money to spend")
}

The program above does the job, meaning it correctly evaluates whether you have money to spend. However, you might want to print something out if the condition is not met, for that you have else.

Introducing else

You would like to improve the preceding code. The else clause is run when if is evaluated to false. Here's how you can add it to the program:

accountBalance = 100
accountCredit = 200
if accountBalance + accountCredit > 0 {
  fmt.Println("You have money to spend")
} else {
  fmt.Println("No money left, please add more funds")
}

Using else if

if and else take you far. Sometimes, it's not enough. You might need to grade a course at different levels depending on the points achieved on the exam. For this situation, you need an else if construct, a construct that will be evaluated if the if construct evaluates to false. It differs from else in that it also takes an expression. Here's an example where it's used:

if testScore >= testScoreGrade5 {
  fmt.Println("Top mark")
 } else if testScore >= testScoreGrade4 {
  fmt.Println("Pass with distinction")
 } else if testScore >= testScoreGrade3 {
  fmt.Println("Pass with distinction")
 } else {
  fmt.Println("Failed")
 }

Multiple expressions

Your expression can examine more than one variable or condition. There are Boolean operators you can use to help you. Here are some operators you are likely to encounter:

  • &&, evaluates to true if values on the left and right side are both true. Here's an example of this operator in use:

    hasGas := true
hasKeyInIgnition := true
if hasGas && hasKeyInIgnition {
  fmt.Println("Can drive car")
 }

    In the preceding code, the expression will evaluate to true as both hasGas and hasKeyInIgnition is true.

  • || , evaluates to true if either left or right value is true. Here's an example of this operator in use:

    hasBurger := true
hasSandwich := false

if hasBurger || hasSandwich {
  fmt.Println("Can eat")
}

    In the preceding code, hasBurger is true and that's enough for this expression to become true.

  • !, also known as NOT, it will negate the expression. Here's an example:

    hasSandwich := false

if !hasSandwich {
 mt.Println("No sandwiches, then I will starve, I only eat sandwiches")
}

    Above, the expression will evaluate to true, thanks to the negation with !.

Assignment - create a program that tests your Boolean logic

In this assignment, you are creating a program that tests out various Boolean logic.

  1. Create a file main.go and give it the following content:

     package main

 import "fmt"
 
 func main() {
  testScoreGrade5 := 80
  testScoreGrade4 := 60
  testScoreGrade3 := 50
  testScore := 49
 
  hasGas := true
  hasKeyInIgnition := true
 
  hasBurger := true
  hasSandwich := false
 
  printMessage := true
  if printMessage {
   fmt.Println("Message")
  }
 
  if testScore >= testScoreGrade5 {
   fmt.Println("Top mark")
  } else if testScore >= testScoreGrade4 {
   fmt.Println("Pass with distinction")
  } else if testScore >= testScoreGrade3 {
   fmt.Println("Pass with distinction")
  } else {
   fmt.Println("Failed")
  }
 
  if hasGas && hasKeyInIgnition {
   fmt.Println("Can drive car")
  }
 
  if hasBurger || hasSandwich {
   fmt.Println("Can eat")
  }
 
  if !hasSandwich {
   fmt.Println("No sandwiches, then I will starve, I only eat sandwiches")
  }
 }

  2. Run the command go run main.go, to run the program

    go run main.go

    You should see the following output:

     Message
 Failed
 Can drive car
 Can eat
 No sandwiches, then I will starve, I only eat sandwiches

  3. Try playing around with the code, how does the output change if you change testScore value to 51, 62, 3 or 90?

🚀 Challenge

A test score shouldn't be negative, how can you add a check for that?

Solution

package main

import "fmt"

func main() {
 testScoreGrade5 := 80
 testScoreGrade4 := 60
 testScoreGrade3 := 50
 testScore := 49

 hasGas := true
 hasKeyInIgnition := true

 hasBurger := true
 hasSandwich := false

 printMessage := true
 if printMessage {
  fmt.Println("Message")
 }

 if testScore >= testScoreGrade5 {
  fmt.Println("Top mark")
 } else if testScore >= testScoreGrade4 {
  fmt.Println("Pass with distinction")
 } else if testScore >= testScoreGrade3 {
  fmt.Println("Pass with distinction")
 } else {
  fmt.Println("Failed")
 }

 if hasGas && hasKeyInIgnition {
  fmt.Println("Can drive car")
 }

 if hasBurger || hasSandwich {
  fmt.Println("Can eat")
 }

 if !hasSandwich {
  fmt.Println("No sandwiches, then I will starve, I only eat sandwiches")
 }
}

Review & Self Study

Have a look at this official tutorial on flow control using a Go sandbox.