any idea why the `else if` work though?

# announcements

[warriorprincess]

any idea why the else if work though?

[diesieben07]

Let's take this simple example (assuming it would compile):

fun myFun(input: Int): Int {
    if (input < 0) {
        return -1
    } else if (input > 0) {
        return 1
    }
}
val value = myFun(0)

what should value be? It's not defined in the function. That's why the function does not compile.

[diesieben07]

It declares it returns an Int, but for some cases there is no return value.

[diesieben07]

Alternatively (same thing):

fun myFun(input: Int): Int {
    return if (input < 0) {
         -1
    } else if (input > 0) {
        1
    }
}

[Czar]

if you're using a result of an if tree, you have to make sure that all branches return (exhaust all conditions).

[warriorprincess]

Alright that makes sense

[warriorprincess]

I didn't know the compiler was smart enough to know all conditions aren't accounted for

[diesieben07]

It actually isn't as smart as you think.
It requires you to have an else block, even if your else if-chain already covers all cases.

[warriorprincess]

Ah that makes more sense. I thought it was doing some high tech static analysis to figure out whether every path in control flow graph was accounted for