If... (Asking Questions)

When you want the computer to do different things depending on a situation, use if.

Ask a question

In Go, questions are clean and simple.

number := 15

if number > 10 {
    fmt.Println("It is greater than 10!")
}

Translation:

Remember that number is 15.

If number is greater than 10 {
    print "It is greater than 10!"
}

The difference from Python is that Go uses braces { } to define the block.

No! (else)

If the answer is no, use else.

if number > 10 {
    fmt.Println("It is big!")
} else {
    fmt.Println("It is small or equal!")
}

Ask more than once (else if)

If you want to ask another question, use else if.

if number > 20 {
    fmt.Println("It is greater than 20!")
} else if number > 10 {
    fmt.Println("It is greater than 10 and 20 or less!")
} else {
    fmt.Println("It is 10 or less!")
}

Translation:

If number is greater than 20 { ... }
Otherwise, if number is greater than 10 { ... }
Otherwise { ... }

Indentation and braces

In Python, indentation was everything. In Go, braces { } mark the start and end of the block. GoLand still formats with indentation so your code is easy to read.

The closing brace means, “the question ends here.”

Symbols recap

• == : equal?
• != : not equal?
• > : greater than?
• < : less than?

Now you can give Go choices based on conditions.