Beginner 15 min read

If, Else If, and Else

By the end of this lesson, you'll be able to:

Chain multiple conditions with else if
Use a final else as a catch-all
Explain that only one branch in a chain ever runs

Prerequisites: "If Statements"

Chaining conditions

Integer leadScore = 65;

if (leadScore >= 80) {
    System.debug('Hot lead');
} else if (leadScore >= 50) {
    System.debug('Warm lead');
} else {
    System.debug('Cold lead');
}

Integer leadScore = 65; — the score being classified.
(blank line)
if (leadScore >= 80) { — false (65 is not ≥ 80), so Apex moves on to check the next condition.
System.debug('Hot lead'); — skipped.
} else if (leadScore >= 50) { — true — this is the first matching condition.
System.debug('Warm lead'); — runs, because line 5 matched.
} else { — the final catch-all — never reached, since line 5 already matched.
System.debug('Cold lead'); — skipped.
} — closes the whole chain.

Apex checks each condition top to bottom and runs the first one that's true — nothing below it is even checked once a match is found.

Only one branch ever runs

Even if a later condition in the chain would also be true, it's never evaluated once an earlier one matched. This is different from writing several separate if statements in a row, where every single one gets checked independently — a common source of subtle bugs when someone means "else if" but writes plain "if" instead.

A real business example: Insurance

Integer riskScore = 42;

if (riskScore >= 80) {
    System.debug('High risk — manual underwriting required');
} else if (riskScore >= 40) {
    System.debug('Medium risk — standard premium');
} else {
    System.debug('Low risk — discount premium');
}

Integer riskScore = 42; — the score being classified.
(blank line)
if (riskScore >= 80) { — false.
System.debug('High risk — manual underwriting required'); — skipped.
} else if (riskScore >= 40) { — true — the first matching condition.
System.debug('Medium risk — standard premium'); — runs.
} else { — never reached.
System.debug('Low risk — discount premium'); — skipped.
} — closes the chain.

Risk tiers are a textbook if/else if/else chain — a fixed number of ranges, checked in order, exactly one outcome selected.

Exercise

Declare Integer examScore = 74. Debug 'Distinction' for 90+, 'Pass' for 50-89, and 'Fail' for anything below 50, using if/else if/else.

Show hint

Check the highest threshold first — if (examScore >= 90) ... else if (examScore >= 50) ... else ...

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APEX

Execution Results

Run your code to see the result.

If, Else If, and Else Quiz

1. In an if/else if/else chain, how many branches run?

At most one — the first one whose condition is true All branches whose conditions are true Always all of them Only the else branch

Leaderboard

1. Monde Masiza 1/1

My Notes

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Summary

else if lets you check several conditions in order, and a trailing else catches everything that didn't match any of them — together, these express "pick exactly one path" logic cleanly.

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