Skip to content
Related Articles

Related Articles

Improve Article
Control Structures in Programming Languages
  • Difficulty Level : Easy
  • Last Updated : 16 Jan, 2020

Control Structures are just a way to specify flow of control in programs. Any algorithm or program can be more clear and understood if they use self-contained modules called as logic or control structures. It basically analyzes and chooses in which direction a program flows based on certain parameters or conditions. There are three basic types of logic, or flow of control, known as:

  1. Sequence logic, or sequential flow
  2. Selection logic, or conditional flow
  3. Iteration logic, or repetitive flow

Let us see them in detail:

  1. Sequential Logic (Sequential Flow)

    Sequential logic as the name suggests follows a serial or sequential flow in which the flow depends on the series of instructions given to the computer. Unless new instructions are given, the modules are executed in the obvious sequence. The sequences may be given, by means of numbered steps explicitly. Also, implicitly follows the order in which modules are written. Most of the processing, even some complex problems, will generally follow this elementary flow pattern.

    Sequential Control flow

  2. Selection Logic (Conditional Flow)

    Selection Logic simply involves a number of conditions or parameters which decides one out of several written modules. The structures which use these type of logic are known as Conditional Structures. These structures can be of three types:

    In this way, the flow of the program depends on the set of conditions that are written. This can be more understood by the following flow charts:

    Double Alternative Control Flow

  3. Iteration Logic (Repetitive Flow)
    The Iteration logic employs a loop which involves a repeat statement followed by a module known as the body of a loop.
    The two types of these structures are:
    • Repeat-For Structure
      This structure has the form:
      Repeat for i = A to N by I:
      [End of loop]

      Here, A is the initial value, N is the end value and I is the increment. The loop ends when A>B. K increases or decreases according to the positive and negative value of I respectively.

      Repeat-For Flow


    • Repeat-While Structure
      It also uses a condition to control the loop. This structure has the form:
      Repeat while condition:
      [End of Loop]

      Repeat While Flow


    In this, there requires a statement that initializes the condition controlling the loop, and there must also be a statement inside the module that will change this condition leading to the end of the loop.

My Personal Notes arrow_drop_up
Recommended Articles
Page :