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Nathan Angulo
4,565 PointsWhy not another 'else if' statement after the first else if statement?
The code I am referencing is:
if (search === 'quit') { break; } else if (search === 'list') { print(inStock.join(', ')); } else { if ( inStock.indexOf( search ) > -1) { print("Yes, we have " + search + " in stock."); } else { print(search + ' is not in stock.'); } }
The current code has an 'if' statement within an 'else'. Why couldn't one just use 'else if'? Is it possible? If not, why? What would happen?
1 Answer
Steven Parker
229,644 PointsFunctionally, you could get the same behavior by converting the nested "if" to another "else if" with a final "else".
But one reason for coding it the way it is would be to keep the tests involving the term itself at one level, and the tests that use it for searching at another level. This could be considered as improved readability now, and reduced opportunity for errors later should additional conditions be needed.
Nathan Angulo
4,565 PointsNathan Angulo
4,565 PointsSo what you're saying is that it looks cleaner the way that he wrote the code?
Steven Parker
229,644 PointsSteven Parker
229,644 PointsFrom my own perspective, I might not say "cleaner". But you might say it was easier to grasp the intention of the code.
This particular example is simple enough either way that I would personally consider it a matter of "programmer's choice". I was mainly suggesting reasons that someone might think the original style should be preferred.