Lessons → PHP Basics → Lesson 4

If / Else Conditions

PHP
⏱ 15 min read📖 BeginnerNot completed

Conditions let your PHP code make decisions. If something is true, do one thing — otherwise, do something else.

Basic if statement

PHP
<?php
$age = 20;
if ($age >= 18) {
    echo "You are an adult.";
}
// Output: You are an adult.
?>

if / else

PHP
<?php
$score = 65;
if ($score >= 70) {
    echo "Pass!";
} else {
    echo "Fail. Try again.";
}
// Output: Fail. Try again.
?>

if / elseif / else

PHP
<?php
$score = 85;
if ($score >= 90) {
    echo "Grade: A";
} elseif ($score >= 80) {
    echo "Grade: B";
} elseif ($score >= 70) {
    echo "Grade: C";
} else {
    echo "Grade: F";
}
// Output: Grade: B
?>

Ternary Operator

PHP
<?php
$age = 20;
$status = ($age >= 18) ? "adult" : "minor";
echo $status;  // adult
?>

Switch Statement

PHP
<?php
$day = "Monday";
switch ($day) {
    case "Monday":
        echo "Start of the work week!";
        break;
    case "Friday":
        echo "Almost weekend!";
        break;
    case "Saturday":
    case "Sunday":
        echo "Weekend!";
        break;
    default:
        echo "Midweek.";
}
?>

Null Coalescing Operator (PHP 7+)

PHP
<?php
// Returns left side if not null, otherwise right side
$username = $_GET['user'] ?? 'Guest';
echo $username;  // Guest (if no user param in URL)

// Chaining
$value = $a ?? $b ?? $c ?? 'default';
?>
💡
Use === in conditions! Always use strict comparison to avoid unexpected type-juggling bugs in PHP.
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