Broadly speaking, conditional statements are the cornerstone of decision making in programming. They enable the program to react differently under varying conditions, following a logical deduction that if a specified condition is true, an action should be taken; otherwise, a different action should ensue.
Whether it's a simple if-then-else, a multi-branched switch, or a succinct ternary operation, each serves the purpose of directing the program flow. Understanding how and when to use these distinct structures is pivotal for a coder, as seamless program logic and efficiency often depend on the appropriate use of conditionals. The following is an overarching look at these control mechanisms: