Syntax Question IF ELSE (Java)

Question

what is the java syntax for saying

if x is not equal to a or b

I am trying to write an if else statement .. if a certain value is not equal to say 2 or 3 then do something else do something else :) thats confusing lol

Answer 1

if( x != a && x != b )

Notice it's an &&, not an ||

The condition ( x != 2 || x != 3 ) is always true: if x = 2, then x != 3 and the condition is true. if x = 1, then x != 2 and the condition is true.

What you're really saying is: if x is not one of 2 or 3, which is, x is not in the array [2,3], which is "x is not 2 neither 3", which is x != 2 and x != 3.

Answer 2

if(x!=a && x!=b){
  //do...
}

Answer 3

if ((x != a) && (x != b)) {
    // do stuff
} else {
    // do other stuff
}

Answer 4

Try this:

if (x != a && x != b) {
  // Something (action x)
} else {
  // Something else (action y)
}

Note that it's an "and" condition even though you're asking whether x is equal to a or b because each condition is negative. The other way you could represent this (if you find it more readable) is:

if (!(x == a || x == b)) {
  // Something (action x)
} else {
  // Something else (action y)
}

And at that point you may find it more readable still to get rid of the negation, but switch round what you do in the blocks:

if (x == a || x == b) {
  // Action y
} else {
  // Action x
}

These three blocks of code all do the same thing, but I think I'd find the bottom one the most readable as the condition is simple.

Answer 5

directly mimics the english sentence: if x is not equal to a or b

if (!(x == a || x == b))
{
    doSomething();
}
else
{
    somethingElse();
}

but if the extra not operator and parentheses hurts your eyes, use this(note the absence of the word Or in this condition, not anymore parallel with english sentence):

if (x != a && x != b) 
{
    doSomething();
}
else
{
    somethingElse();
}

see my answer on programmer's ignorance pet peeve and Is it acceptable to only use the ‘else’ portion of an ‘if-else’ statement?, why i advocate constructing simple conditions(directly mimics english sentence, i.e. without sticky ANDs and too much NOTs)