If / Else Conditions
PHPConditions allow your PHP code to make decisions. If something is true, do one thing — otherwise, do another. This is one of the most important concepts in programming.
Basic if statement
The simplest form — run code only if a condition is true:
PHP
<?php
$age = 20;
if ($age >= 18) {
echo "You are an adult.";
}
// Output: You are an adult.
?>if / else
Add an else block to handle the case when the condition is false:
PHP
<?php
$score = 65;
if ($score >= 70) {
echo "Pass!";
} else {
echo "Fail. Try again.";
}
// Output: Fail. Try again.
?>if / elseif / else
Check multiple conditions using elseif:
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
?>Comparison Operators
| Operator | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
== | Equal to | $a == $b |
=== | Identical (same type) | $a === $b |
!= | Not equal | $a != $b |
> | Greater than | $a > $b |
< | Less than | $a < $b |
>= | Greater than or equal | $a >= $b |
Ternary Operator (shorthand)
A one-line shortcut for simple if/else:
PHP
<?php
$age = 20;
// Longhand
if ($age >= 18) {
$status = "adult";
} else {
$status = "minor";
}
// Shorthand (ternary)
$status = ($age >= 18) ? "adult" : "minor";
echo $status; // adult
?>
💡
Pro tip: Always use
=== (triple equals) instead of == (double equals) when you want to check both value AND type. This prevents unexpected bugs in PHP.
Ready to test your knowledge?
Take the quiz for this lesson to reinforce what you learned about conditions.