Ruby if, then, elsif, and else Keywords

last modified October 18, 2026

This tutorial explains how to use Ruby's conditional statements with if, then, elsif, and else keywords. These constructs control program flow based on conditions.

The if keyword evaluates a condition and executes code when true. then separates the condition from the code block (optional in most cases).

elsif provides additional conditions to check when previous ones fail. else executes when all preceding conditions are false. These form the complete conditional structure in Ruby.

Only false and nil are falsy in Ruby. Every other value, including 0 and the empty string, is truthy, so conditions do not need to be strictly boolean.

Basic if Statement

This simple example demonstrates the most basic form of conditional execution. The code block runs only when the condition evaluates to true.

basic_if.rb

age = 20

if age >= 18
  puts "You are an adult"
end

The condition age >= 18 is evaluated first. Since 20 is greater than or equal to 18, the message prints. Without the if statement, the code would always execute.

if with else Clause

Adding an else clause provides an alternative execution path when the condition fails. This covers all possible cases for the condition.

if_else.rb

temperature = 15

if temperature > 25
  puts "It's hot outside"
else
  puts "It's not hot outside"
end

Since 15 is not greater than 25, the else block executes. The else clause ensures some code always runs, regardless of the condition's result.

if with elsif Clauses

Multiple conditions can be chained using elsif. Ruby checks each condition in order until one evaluates to true.

if_elsif.rb

score = 85

if score >= 90
  puts "Grade A"
elsif score >= 80
  puts "Grade B"
elsif score >= 70
  puts "Grade C"
else
  puts "Grade D"
end

The first test fails because 85 is not at least 90, so Ruby evaluates the next condition. Since score >= 80 is true, the B branch runs and the remaining branches are skipped. The else handles any score below 70.

Using then Keyword

The then keyword separates the condition from the code block. It is optional in normal multi-line conditionals; on a single line it separates the condition from the body.

if_then.rb

x = 10

if x == 10 then puts "x is 10" end

# Multi-line version without then
if x == 10
  puts "x is 10"
end

Both forms work identically. The then version is more compact for simple conditions. For complex conditions or multiple statements, the multi-line form is preferred for readability.

Nested if Statements

if statements can be nested inside other if statements to create complex decision trees. Each level adds another condition to check.

nested_if.rb

age = 25
has_license = true

if age >= 18
  if has_license
    puts "You can drive"
  else
    puts "You need a license first"
  end
else
  puts "You're too young to drive"
end

The outer if checks age, while the inner one verifies license status. Nested conditionals should be used sparingly as they can become hard to read. Consider using logical operators (&&, ||) instead.

Conditional Assignment

In Ruby, if is an expression, so it returns the value of the branch that executes. That value can be assigned directly to a variable.

conditional_assignment.rb

status = if rand(2) == 1
           "active"
         else
           "inactive"
         end

puts "Account status: #{status}"

The entire if expression evaluates to either "active" or "inactive", which is assigned to status. Because of rand(2), the result changes from run to run. This pattern is common when the result of the condition is the primary purpose.

Modifier if Form

Ruby offers a postfix if syntax for simple conditions. The code executes only if the condition following it is true.

modifier_if.rb

logged_in = true

puts "Welcome back!" if logged_in

# Equivalent to:
if logged_in
  puts "Welcome back!"
end

The modifier form is concise for single statements with simple conditions. For complex conditions or multiple statements, the standard if form is more appropriate. The modifier form doesn't support else clauses.

if vs unless

unless is the negated counterpart of if: it runs its body when the condition is false. Use it for simple negative conditions, and avoid unless ... else, which is harder to read.

unless.rb

logged_in = false

unless logged_in
  puts "Please log in"
end

puts "Guest access" unless logged_in

Both forms print a message because logged_in is false. The modifier form is equivalent to a single-statement unless block.

Source

Ruby Control Expressions Documentation

This tutorial covered Ruby's conditional statements with practical examples showing basic usage, branching, nesting, and special forms.

Author

My name is Jan Bodnar, and I am a passionate programmer with extensive programming experience. I have been writing programming articles since 2007. To date, I have authored over 1,400 articles and 8 e-books. I possess more than ten years of experience in teaching programming.

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