Thread: Who can tell me how it works ?

I read the book of K&R "The C Programming Language (Second Edition)", in the part 1.5.4 (words counting), it shows a programm(See the end).

This program is OK, but I don't know how the if-else sentence works, see, the 1st if contains c == '\n', the 2nd also contains '\n', and once the 2nd "if" do the "state == IN", will the last else if work?

So anyway, it's different from the "if-else" I learned before, I just know that all the "if" conditions should be different, and computer will execute only one sentence. So how this program run? Thanx for answer.

P.S: the program

Code:

#include <stdio.h>

#define IN 1
#define OUT 0

main()
{
    int c, nl, nw, nc, state;

	state = OUT;
	nl = nw = nc = 0;
	while ((c = getchar()) != EOF){
	    ++nc;
		if (c == '\n')
			++nl;
		if (c == ' ' || c == '\n' || c == '\t')
			state = OUT;
		else if (state == OUT){
		    state = IN;
			++nw;
		}
	}
	printf("%d %d %d\n", nl, nw, nc);
}

You have several if statements in a row here. They are not related.

Code:

if (c == '\n')
        ++nl;

That is one if statement. If c matches the criteria, nl is incremented.

Code:

if (c == ' ' || c == '\n' || c == '\t')
        state = OUT;
else if (state == OUT) {
        state = IN;
        ++nw;
}

This is a completely separate if statement with two tests. If the first test is true, then state is sent to OUT; otherwise the second test is performed. If that is true, then state is set to IN and nw is incremented; if neither are true, nothing happens -- there's no else going with the last if.

Ah, I understand, the 1st if statement is just independent, it has no relationship with the if - elseif (the latter one is a group) which comes later, the computer will test the 1st "if", and it will also test the later ones. Thannk you!

yeah, you're right. It's just an illusion, I understand now, thanx~

Originally Posted by claudiu

There is no else if statement, it is merely an illusion caused by writing the next if as part of the else and not adding brackets since it is just a one line instruction. There are ifs and elses in C, no else ifs. I think that is the source of confusion for the OP.

i don't know about the else if being an illusion. You can do this:

Code:

if

else if

else.

But if you do this, it will be a syntax error

Code:

if

else {
   if
}
else

So if statements dont have to be paired with else? for instance

Code:

x = getint()
if (x = 1)
{
blah;
} 
blah2;
return 0

does this if statement just move on, or do you have to put the blah2; return 0 in an else statement?

They mean different things. else happens when the part in the if statement is false, as opposed to things after the if, which just happen.

[QUOTE=Rogerdodger91;1028992]So if statements dont have to be paired with else? for instance

Code:

if (x == 1)

Just a quick note, I'm sure it's just a typo, but be careful of = vs ==. A single = is for assignment, a double == for comparison. When used in a conditional expression, x = 1 is always true, and it sets x to 1, possibly changing it's value. So in the example you posted, blah would always get executed. You probably want that second = in your code sample.

Originally Posted by Rogerdodger91

So if statements dont have to be paired with else? for instance

Code:

x = getint()
if (x = 1)
{
blah;
} 
blah2;
return 0

does this if statement just move on, or do you have to put the blah2; return 0 in an else statement?

I see the others are giving you good explanations but maybe something more visual would help...

Code:

if (x == 11)
 printf("Golly!");
else
 printf("Oh darn");

Ok... that prints Golly if x is equal to 11 or oh darn if it's not. It will never print both statements.

Code:

x = 10;

if (x == 11)
  printf("Golly");
else if (x == 10)
  printf("bingo");
else
 printf("oh darn");

Here the sequence is is x == 11, no, do the else ... runs into the next if ... is x == 10, yes, do this... the final else is never executed. The effect is that only one of three statements is executed...

Your other inquiry about elseless ifs is actually used more often than if - else, at least in my code.

Code:

if (x == 11)
  printf("Golly");

printf("thanks for playing");
return 0;

In this case the Golly is only printed if x == 11, but the program signs off no matter what.