Final answer:
An if statement is used for conditional execution of code, while a while loop is used for repetitive execution of code based on a condition.
Step-by-step explanation:
An if statement is a control structure in programming that allows you to execute a block of code only if a specified condition is true. It is typically used for decision-making. For example, if a student's grade is higher than 90, they receive an A. The syntax of an if statement is:
if (condition) {
// code to be executed if the condition is true
}
A while loop, on the other hand, allows you to repeatedly execute a block of code as long as a specified condition is true. It is typically used when you want to perform a task multiple times until a certain condition is met. For example, a while loop can be used to print numbers from 1 to 5. The syntax of a while loop is:
while (condition) {
// code to be executed repeatedly while the condition is true
}
The key difference between an if statement and a while loop is that an if statement is used for conditional execution of code, while a while loop is used for repetitive execution of code based on a condition.