IF ~ THEN ~ ELSEIF ~ ELSE ~ ENDIF

`IF` statements allow you to only run code if a /condition/ is true. There are multiple forms of `IF` statement, which will be covered in this page. * Conditions A /condition/ is an expression that results in a true or false value. The "true" value is 1 (or any non-zero number) and the "false" value is 0. The condition cannot result in a string or array, or a `Type mismatch` error will occur. * Simple IF ```sb4 IF condition THEN statement ``` |* Name | Description | | `condition` | A conditional expression. | | `statement` | Any single SmileBASIC statement. This will run if `condition` is true. | This `IF` statement will run `statement` only if `condition` is true. ```sb4 IF RND(2) THEN PRINT "50/50 odds!" ``` * ELSE If you want to run a different statement when the condition is false, you can use `ELSE`. ```sb4 IF condition THEN trueStatement ELSE falseStatement ``` |* Name | Description | | `condition` | A conditional expression. | | `trueStatement` | Any single SmileBASIC statement. This will run if `condition` is true. | | `falseStatement` | Any single SmileBASIC statement. This will run if `condition` is false. | ```sb4 HEALTH=50 IF HEALTH<100 THEN PRINT "Perfect health!" ELSE PRINT "Less-than-perfect health." ``` * Multi-Line IF Blocks If you want to write long conditions or complex statements, multi-line `IF` is much more convenient. If a line break comes after `THEN`, then the `IF` statement is a multi-line block, and can span multiple statements. ```sb4 IF condition THEN statements... ENDIF ``` |* Name | Description | | `condition` | A conditional expression. | | `statements...` | Any number of SmileBASIC statements. This will run if `condition` is true. | Multi-line `IF` is not strictly necessary, but if your lines of code becomes too long it can become harder to read. It is a good idea to use it where appropriate. ```sb4 'this line is too long... IF LONG_VARIABLE_NAME<OTHER_LONG_NAME THEN PRINT "LESS":DO_SOMETHING 'let's fix it IF LONG_VARIABLE_NAME<OTHER_LONG_NAME THEN PRINT "LESS" DO_SOMETHING ENDIF ``` A multi-line `IF` can contain one `ELSE` section as well. ```sb4 IF LONG_VARIABLE_NAME<OTHER_LONG_NAME THEN PRINT "LESS" DO_SOMETHING ELSE PRINT "MORE" DO_SOMETHING_ELSE ENDIF ``` * ELSEIF An `IF` block can also contain multiple alternative conditions, in the form of `ELSEIF` statements. ```sb4 IF ifCond THEN ifStatements... ELSEIF elseifCond1 THEN elseifStatements... ENDIF ``` |* Name | Description | | `ifCond` | The condition associated with the opening `IF` statement. | | `ifStatements...` | These statements are run if `ifCond` is true. | | `elseifCond` | A condition associated with an `ELSEIF` statement. | | `elseifStatements...` | These statements are run if the associated `elseifCond` is true. | You can use any number of `ELSEIF` sections. In the entire `IF` block, each condition is checked in order, and the first one that is true is taken. If none of the conditions are true, then the `ELSE` section is taken, if it exists. ```sb4 HEALTH=50 IF HEALTH==0 THEN PRINT "Dead!" ELSEIF HEALTH<25 THEN PRINT "Worse for wear..." ELSEIF HEALTH<50 THEN PRINT "A little beat up" ELSEIF HEALTH<75 THEN PRINT "Getting tired" ELSE PRINT "Perfect health!" ENDIF ``` Note that only the *first* condition that is true is taken. `ELSEIF` is intended to be used for mutually-exclusive conditions. Even if two conditions are exactly the same and are both true, only the first is taken. You may have to use two separate `IF` statements to achieve the effect you want. ```sb4 IF #TRUE THEN PRINT "I'm TRUE!!!!" ELSEIF #TRUE THEN PRINT "Me too, but you'll never see it..." ENDIF ``` * Notes ** IF GOTO If the body of the `IF` statement contains a single `GOTO`, there is a shorthand you can use. ```sb4 IF condition GOTO @label ``` The entire statement must be written on one line. The `GOTO` shortcut can also be used in an `ELSEIF`.