Question

What is a control structure?

Short answer

Short Answer: Control structures are blocks of code that determine the flow of execution in a program, enabling developers to control which code is executed and in what order. There are three main types of control structures: sequential, selection, and iteration structures. Sequential structures execute statements one after another, selection structures (e.g. 'if' and 'if-else') make decisions based on conditions, and iteration structures (e.g. 'for' and 'while' loops) execute a sequence of statements repeatedly based on a given condition. These structures help create efficient and logical programs.

Step-by-step solution

Definition of Control Structure

A control structure is a block of programming code that controls the flow of execution. It allows developers to determine how the program should behave based on certain conditions or situations. With the help of control structures, developers can dictate which code should be executed and in what order.

Types of Control Structures

There are three main types of control structures that you'll typically encounter in programming: 1. Sequential Structure: The simplest form of control structure in which each statement is executed one after another in a linear order. 2. Selection Structure: Also known as a conditional statement, this control structure allows developers to make decisions in the code based on certain conditions. Examples include 'if', 'if-else', and 'switch' statements. 3. Iteration Structure: Commonly known as loops, these control structures are used when a sequence of statements needs to be executed multiple times, based on a particular condition. Examples include 'for', 'while', and 'do-while' loops.

Examples of Control Structures

Example 1: Selection structure using 'if' statement ``` if (grade >= 60) { printf("You passed the exam."); } ``` In this example, if the 'grade' variable is greater than or equal to 60, the message "You passed the exam" will be displayed. Otherwise, nothing will happen. Example 2: Iteration structure using 'for' loop ``` for (int i = 1; i <= 10; i++) { printf("%d ", i); } ``` In this example, the 'for' loop will execute the printf statement 10 times, printing the numbers 1 through 10 in order. By understanding and implementing control structures effectively, developers can create more efficient and logical programs.