Why is it possible to have duplicate hard-coded values in if-elseif-else statements?

[Rebecca Wolf]

Hi,

Consider the following code.

public class IfElseHardCoded{
   public static void main(String [] args){

 	int x;
	
	if (true) {
		x = 5;
	} else if (true) {
		x = 6;
	} else if (false) {
		x = 7;
	} else if (true) {
		x = 8;
	} else {
		x = 9;
	}

}

}

Why does this compile? Isn't a large part of this code unreachable at compile time? For example the first else if statement, which cannot ever be reached.

Regards,
Shane

[Henry Wong]

Shane Jensen wrote:
Why does this compile? Isn't a large part of this code unreachable at compile time? For example the first else if statement, which cannot ever be reached.

The unreachable code rules, are relaxed for if-else blocks, in order to allow for conditional compilation. This is needed as using debugging flags, to activate/deactivate code, is a common practice.

Henry

[Roel De Nijs]

Shane Jensen wrote:Why does this compile? Isn't a large part of this code unreachable at compile time? For example the first else if statement, which cannot ever be reached.

Luckily for you, the "unreachable code" topic is one of the more popular ones in this forum. So using the search function you'll find plenty of topics about "unreachable code". Here is a list which could probably be added to my certification book

return value for method.

Confused point about infinite loop

continue and break in a loop would generate compilation error?

Which of these is unreachable code?

Unreachable Code

Which is the first line to cause error?

Maybe "unreachable code" should be "dead code" in page 70, (Java OCA 8 Programmer I Study Guide)

Throwing a second exception question

System.exit() and unreachable code

good examples of unreachable code?

I think you know what to do this weekend

Hope it helps!
Kind regards,
Roel

[Rebecca Wolf]

Thanks, guys.

Roel De Nijs wrote:
I think you know what to do this weekend

I have my exam this Monday, so I'll save it for later. ;)

[Roel De Nijs]

Shane Jensen wrote:I have my exam this Monday

Best of luck!

[Rebecca Wolf]

Roel De Nijs wrote:

Shane Jensen wrote:I have my exam this Monday

Best of luck!

Thanks! I'm sure I'll be fine, largely thanks to everyone's help on this forum.