JavaScript branching (if + else + elseif)
making decisions between or among conditions
// updated 2025-11-09 15:10
Branches make decisions with data based on cases:
"If" statements
Accounting for a situation:
if (x == true) {
// if x is true, do something
}
// if it isn't, do nothing"If/else" statements
Accounting for an either-or situation:
if (x == true) {
// if x is true, do something
} else {
// or else, do something else
}"If/elseif/else" statements
Accounting for a non-binary situation:
if (x > 100) {
// if x is above 100, do something
} else if (x > 50) {
// if x is between 50-100, do something else
} else {
// otherwise, do something completely different
}We can place as many else if statements as we like:
if (x > 100) {
// if x is above 100, do something
} else if (x > 50) {
// if x is between 50-100, do something else
} else if (x > 25) {
// if x is between 25-50, do something else
} else if (x > 10) {
// if x is between 10-25, do something else
} else {
// otherwise, do something completely different
}Switch statements
A more aesthetically-pleasing "synonym" of the if/elseif/else structure:
switch (x) {
case (x > 100):
// do something
break;
case (x > 50):
// do something else
break;
case (x > 25):
// do something else
break;
case (x > 10):
// do something else
break;
default:
// do something completely different
}Compare the keywords from the if/elseif/else and the switch!