/kənˈdɪʃ.ə.nəl/
adjective — "the programming version of ‘if this, then that’ logic."
Conditional in information technology refers to statements or expressions in programming that execute certain code only when specified conditions are true. They are fundamental to controlling program flow, making decisions, and implementing dynamic behavior in software.
Technically, Conditional constructs include:
- if statements — executing code blocks when a Boolean expression evaluates to true.
- if-else chains — providing alternative execution paths based on multiple conditions.
- switch/case statements — selecting code paths based on discrete values.
- ternary operators — concise inline conditionals that assign values based on a condition.
Examples of Conditional usage include:
- Checking user authentication before granting access to a resource.
- Adjusting application behavior based on configuration flags or environment variables.
- Validating input and executing error handling when data does not meet requirements.
Conceptually, Conditional is the decision-making mechanism of code—it answers the question: “Do we do this, or do we do that?”
In practice, Conditional statements are paired with Loops, Try-Catch, and Exception handling to create robust and flexible program logic.