What is Then?
As a programming term, \"then\" refers to a part of conditional statements. Conditional statements are code snippets that allow a programmer to check if a specific condition is true or false. If the condition proves to be true, then the program executes specific instructions, and if the condition proves to be false, then the program skips those instructions. In this sense, \"then\" is a keyword that represents the code block that is executed if the condition is true.
The Usage of \"Then\"
The \"then\" keyword is primarily used in \"if-then\" conditional statements. An \"if-then\" statement consists of two parts - the \"if\" part, which is the condition that the program checks, and the \"then\" part, which is the code to execute if the condition is true. The basic syntax of an \"if-then\" statement using \"then\" is as follows:
if (condition) then {
code to execute
}
The curly braces indicate the code block to be executed if the condition is true. The \"then\" keyword is optional in some programming languages, such as Python and Ruby, but it is necessary in others, such as Visual Basic and Pascal.
Examples of \"Then\"
Here are a couple of examples that demonstrate the use of \"then\" in different programming languages:
Visual Basic:
Dim num As Integer = 5
If num > 10 Then
Console.WriteLine(\"The number is greater than 10\")
End If
In this example, the program checks if the variable \"num\" is greater than 10. If it is, then the program prints \"The number is greater than 10\" to the console. If it is not, then the program skips this code block.
Pascal:
Program ThenExample;
Var
num : Integer;
Begin
num := 5;
If num > 10 Then
WriteLn('The number is greater than 10');
End;
In this example, the program once again checks if the variable \"num\" is greater than 10. If it is, then the program writes \"The number is greater than 10\" to the console. Notice that \"then\" is necessary in Pascal for \"if-then\" statements.
Conclusion
Ultimately, the \"then\" keyword is an essential part of conditional statements in programming. It represents the code to execute if a specific condition is true, and without it, programmers would not be able to write effective code that could make decisions based on user input or other variables. By understanding the purpose and usage of \"then,\" programmers can write cleaner, more efficient code that can perform specific tasks based on defined conditions, making software that is more effective and user-friendly.
