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---
# if-else Statement (C++)
Controls conditional branching.  
  
## Syntax  
  
```  
  
      if ( expression )  
   statement1  
[else  
   statement2]  
```  
  
## Remarks  
 If the value of *expression* is nonzero, *statement1* is executed. If the optional **else** is present, *statement2* is executed if the value of *expression* is zero. *expression* must be of arithmetic or pointer type, or it must be of a class type that defines an unambiguous conversion to an arithmetic or pointer type. (For information about conversions, see [Standard Conversions](../cpp/standard-conversions.md).)  
  
 In both forms of the **if** statement, *expression*, which can have any value except a structure, is evaluated, including all side effects. Control passes from the **if** statement to the next statement in the program unless one of the *statement*s contains a [break](../cpp/break-statement-cpp.md), [continue](../cpp/continue-statement-cpp.md), or [goto](../cpp/goto-statement-cpp.md).  
  
 The **else** clause of an `if...else` statement is associated with the closest previous **if** statement in the same scope that does not have a corresponding **else** statement.  
  
 For this sample to be unambiguous about `if...else` pairing, uncomment the braces.  
  
## Example  
  
```  
// if_else_statement.cpp  
#include <stdio.h>  
  
int main()   
{  
   int x = 0;  
   if (x == 0)  
   {  
      printf_s("x is 0!\n");  
   }  
   else  
   {  
      printf_s("x is not 0!\n"); // this statement will not be executed  
   }  
  
   x = 1;  
   if (x == 0)  
   {  
      printf_s("x is 0!\n"); // this statement will not be executed  
   }  
   else  
   {  
      printf_s("x is not 0!\n");  
   }  
  
   return 0;  
}  
```  
  
```Output  
x is 0!  
x is not 0!  
```  
  
## See Also  
 [Selection Statements](../cpp/selection-statements-cpp.md)   
 [Keywords](../cpp/keywords-cpp.md)   
 [switch Statement (C++)](../cpp/switch-statement-cpp.md)