I often see people write that `when` without an ar...

# getting-started

[Florian]

I often see people write that when without an argument is a replacement for an if-else-if ladder. But why particularly the argument-less one? Isn't it also a replacement for if-else-if when it has an argument?

[Szymon Lipiński]

I think when looks nicer. What's more, in the case of

if (a > 0) {}
else if (b > 0) {}
else {}

it can be a little bit more difficult to pass one variable.

[Florian]

What I mean is

[Florian]

The Kotlin docs say "when without an argument replaces the if-else-if ladder"

[Florian]

and every article online seems to copy that wording

[Florian]

but a normal when statement with an argument also works like an if-else-if, doesn't it?

[Mark Murphy]

yes, but if does not take an argument, so the comparison with the zero-argument when is a closer match

[Florian]

That makes a lot of sense, thank you