Master conditional statements (if, else, switch) and loops (for, while).
Control flow statements are fundamental constructs that allow a programmer to alter the default sequential execution of code. They enable programs to make decisions and perform repetitive tasks. The primary decision-making statement is the `if-else` construct. An `if` statement executes a block of code only if a specified boolean condition is `true`. It can be paired with an `else` statement, which executes a block of code if the condition is `false`. For situations with multiple conditions, you can use `else if`. Another conditional statement is the `switch` statement, which provides a clean way to test a variable for equality against a list of values, often being more readable than a long chain of `if-else if` statements. Looping constructs are used to execute a block of code repeatedly. The `for` loop is ideal when you know in advance how many times you want to iterate. It consists of an initialization, a condition, and an update expression. The `while` loop repeatedly executes a block of code as long as a given boolean condition remains `true`. It is useful when the number of iterations is not known beforehand. A variation is the `do-while` loop, which is similar to the `while` loop but guarantees that the loop body will be executed at least once, as the condition is checked *after* the first iteration. Mastering these control flow mechanisms is essential for creating dynamic and responsive applications that can react to different inputs and situations.