Final answer:
Compound conditionals are used to combine multiple conditions into a single, concise statement, improving code readability and efficiency. This practice also ensures conditions are stated clearly upfront, aligning with coding standards for maintainability.
Step-by-step explanation:
You would want to use a compound conditional for several reasons. First, it allows you to combine multiple conditions into a single statement, making your code more concise and easier to understand. Instead of having several if statements, you can have one if statement that includes all your conditions using logical operators such as AND (&&) and OR (||).
In addition to making code more readable, compound conditionals can also make the code more efficient by reducing the number of lines and improving the logical flow. For instance, checking multiple conditions might dictate the direction in which a program should proceed, and combining these checks into one statement can help avoid unnecessary complexity.
Lastly, using compound conditionals is a common practice that aligns with coding standards for simplicity and maintainability. It assists in making sure that the conditions for a certain operation are stated upfront, thereby enhancing the clarity of the code and reducing the likelihood of errors.