Learn Understanding If Statements | If Statements and Short Statements

Conditional logic is at the heart of everyday decision-making, and programming is no different. Imagine you are deciding whether to bring an umbrella: if it looks like rain, you take it; if not, you leave it at home. In Go, these kinds of choices are made using if statements. An if statement lets your code choose actions based on whether a condition is true or false, guiding the program’s flow just like your daily choices guide your actions.

main.go


              1234567891011
            
package main

import "fmt"

func main() {
    number := 7

    if number > 0 {
        fmt.Println("The number is positive.")
    }
}

This program demonstrates the basic structure of an if statement in Go. You start by declaring a variable named number and assigning it the value 7. The line beginning with the if keyword checks the condition number > 0. If this condition evaluates to true, the code block inside the curly braces {} is executed, printing "The number is positive." to the console. If the condition is false, the code block is skipped. The use of curly braces is required in Go, even for single statements, making the structure clear and consistent.

main.go


              123456789
            
package main

func main() {
    isActive := true

    if isActive {
        // Do something when active
    }
}

Here, the condition inside the if statement is a boolean variable isActive. Using meaningful boolean variables can make your code easier to read and maintain. Notice how the code stays readable by using indentation and clear variable names. In Go, every condition in an if statement must be a boolean expression—something that evaluates to either true or false. Avoid common mistakes such as accidentally using assignment (=) instead of comparison (==), or writing conditions that are not clearly true or false. Always aim for concise, direct expressions, and use indentation to visually separate the conditional block, supporting both readability and error prevention.

Definition

A boolean expression is any expression that evaluates to either true or false. Boolean expressions are essential in conditional logic because they determine whether the if statement’s code block will run.

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Section 1. Chapter 1

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main.go


              1234567891011
            
package main

import "fmt"

func main() {
    number := 7

    if number > 0 {
        fmt.Println("The number is positive.")
    }
}

main.go


              123456789
            
package main

func main() {
    isActive := true

    if isActive {
        // Do something when active
    }
}

Definition

Everything was clear?

Thanks for your feedback!

Section 1. Chapter 1

Understanding If Statements

1. What is the primary purpose of an if statement in Go?

2. Which of the following is a valid boolean expression in Go?

3. Why is indentation important in Go's if statements?

Understanding If Statements

1. What is the primary purpose of an if statement in Go?

2. Which of the following is a valid boolean expression in Go?

3. Why is indentation important in Go's if statements?