Making decisions and controlling the order in which your code runs makes your code reusable and robust. This section covers the syntax for controlling data flow in JavaScript and its significance when used with Boolean data types
> You can take this lesson on [Microsoft Learn](https://docs.microsoft.com/learn/modules/web-development-101-if-else/?WT.mc_id=academic-77807-sagibbon)!
Booleans can be only two values: `true` or `false`. Booleans help make decisions on which lines of code should run when certain conditions are met.
Set your boolean to be true or false like this:
`let myTrueBool = true`
`let myFalseBool = false`
✅ Booleans are named after the English mathematician, philosopher and logician George Boole (1815–1864).
## Comparison Operators and Booleans
Operators are used to evaluate conditions by making comparisons that will create a Boolean value. The following is a list of operators that are frequently used.
| `<` | **Less than**: Compares two values and returns the `true` Boolean data type if the value on the left side is less than the right | `5 < 6 // true` |
| `<=` | **Less than or equal to**: Compares two values and returns the `true` Boolean data type if the value on the left side is less than or equal to the right | `5 <= 6 // true` |
| `>` | **Greater than**: Compares two values and returns the `true` Boolean data type if the value on the left side is larger than the right | `5 > 6 // false` |
| `>=` | **Greater than or equal to**: Compares two values and returns the `true` Boolean data type if the value on the left side is larger than or equal to the right | `5 >= 6 // false` |
| `===` | **Strict equality**: Compares two values and returns the `true` Boolean data type if values on the right and left are equal AND are the same data type. | `5 === 6 // false` |
| `!==` | **Inequality**: Compares two values and returns the opposite Boolean value of what a strict equality operator would return | `5 !== 6 // true` |
✅ Check your knowledge by writing some comparisons in your browser's console. Does any returned data surprise you?
## If Statement
The if statement will run code in between its blocks if the condition is true.
```javascript
if (condition){
//Condition was true. Code in this block will run.
}
```
Logical operators are often used to form the condition.
```javascript
let currentMoney;
let laptopPrice;
if (currentMoney >= laptopPrice){
//Condition was true. Code in this block will run.
✅ Test your understanding of this code and the following code by running it in a browser console. Change the values of the currentMoney and laptopPrice variables to change the returned `console.log()`.
## Logical Operators and Booleans
Decisions might require more than one comparison, and can be strung together with logical operators to produce a Boolean value.
| `&&` | **Logical AND**: Compares two Boolean expressions. Returns true **only** if both sides are true | `(5 > 6) && (5 < 6 ) //One side is false, other is true. Returns false` |
| `\|\|` | **Logical OR**: Compares two Boolean expressions. Returns true if at least one side is true | `(5 > 6) \|\| (5 < 6) //One side is false, other is true. Returns true` |
| `!` | **Logical NOT**: Returns the opposite value of a Boolean expression | `!(5 > 6) // 5 is not greater than 6, but "!" will return true` |
## Conditions and Decisions with Logical Operators
Logical operators can be used to form conditions in if..else statements.
```javascript
let currentMoney;
let laptopPrice;
let laptopDiscountPrice = laptopPrice - (laptopPrice * .20) //Laptop price at 20 percent off
if (currentMoney >= laptopPrice || currentMoney >= laptopDiscountPrice){
//Condition was true. Code in this block will run.
console.log("Getting a new laptop!");
}
else {
//Condition was true. Code in this block will run.
console.log("Can't afford a new laptop, yet!");
}
```
### Negation operator
You've seen so far how if you can use an `if...else` statement to create conditional logic. Anything that goes into an `if` needs to evaluate to true/false. By using the `!` operator you can _negate_ the expression. It would look like so:
```javascript
if (!condition) {
// runs if condition is false
} else {
// runs if condition is true
}
```
### Ternary expressions
`if...else` isn't the only way to express decision logic. You can also use something called a ternary operator. The syntax for it looks like this:
