If I have code that has a lot of if/then/else conditions like so:
if () {
if () {
} else {
}
} else {
if () {
} else {
}
}
and there might also be a lot of text inside those conditions. How can I quickly find the outermost if as well as the corresponding else.
I'd use backward-up-list (bound to C-M-up) to work my way up the nested blocks to the if I'm interested in, then use forward-sexp (bound to C-M-right) when on the left bracket to jump over the block to the else.
Try moving by parentheses: M-C-b (back), M-C-f (forward), M-C-n (next), M-C-p. Don't be afraid to just move the point to the top of the buffer and isearch forward. You can also move by defuns and other constructs.