Java · Beginner level

Beginner level · Module 2 of 5 · 11 guided hours

Decisions, Loops and Methods in Java

Control the flow of a program with conditions and loops, read input with Scanner, and organise code into reusable methods.

Learning objectives

  • Use if/else and switch to make decisions
  • Repeat work with for, while and do-while loops
  • Write methods with parameters and return values

Topics

  • comparison and logical operators
  • if/else and switch
  • for, while, do-while
  • Scanner input
  • methods, parameters and return
  • method overloading

Lessons

  1. Lesson 1 Making Decisions with if and switch

    Use comparisons, logical operators, if/else chains and switch to choose what a program does.

    boolean expression&& and ||else ifswitch expression

  2. Lesson 2 Loops and Reading Input

    Repeat work with for, while and do-while loops, and read user input safely with Scanner.

    for loopwhile and do-whilesentinel valueScanner

  3. Lesson 3 Writing Methods

    Break programs into methods with parameters and return values, and understand variable scope.

    method signaturereturn typeparametersscopeoverloading

Practical activity

Build a school fees checker that reads student payments, decides each student's status (paid, partly paid, not paid) and totals the outstanding balance, using one method per task.

Expected outcomes

  • Programs that respond to input and repeat work safely
  • Code split into small, named methods

Assessment

Practical test: complete a partly written program by adding a loop, a decision and two methods; marked with a provided set of test inputs.

Free taster lesson Control Flow & Methods Read a free self-study lesson on this topic in the Free Course Library.

Taught live by an instructor — online or in person. Free course lessons are for self-study and do not lead to a certificate — see registration options.