Part 3: Control Flow and Data Structures

Control flow and data structures form the backbone of programming. They allow developers to dictate how a program operates and how data is organized, stored, and retrieved. In this article, we will explore key concepts like conditional statements, loops, and various data structures including arrays, lists, maps, and sets.

1. Conditional Statements

Conditional statements enable programs to make decisions based on specific conditions. They are crucial in programming as they enable flexibility, allowing different actions based on varied scenarios. This capability is essential for creating dynamic, responsive, and efficient programs that can handle a wide range of inputs and situations. Java offers several conditional constructs:

a. if and else Statements:

int number = 10;
if (number > 0) {
    System.out.println("Positive number");
} else {
    System.out.println("Negative number or zero");
}

b. switch Statement: The switch statement is used for multiple conditional branches based on a single value.

char grade = 'B';
switch (grade) {
    case 'A':
        System.out.println("Excellent");
        break;
    case 'B':
        System.out.println("Good");
        break;
    case 'C':
        System.out.println("Fair");
        break…