Conditional Execution

There are a number of statements and special operators that can be used to conditionally execute code. These are described in detail in Chapter 14, "The Built-In Macros and Special Operators."

Conditional Execution
Macro	Description	Page
`if`	Executes an implicit body if the value of a test is true or an alternate if the test is false.	381
`unless`	Executes an implicit body unless the value of a test is true.	383
case	Executes a number of tests until one is true, and then executes an implicit body associated with the true test.	383
`select`	Compares a target object to a series of potential matches, and executes an implicit body associated with the first match found.	384
`\|`	Returns the value of the first of two operands which is true.Returns the value of the first of two operands which is true. This is a logical or operation.	397
`&`	Executes a second operand and returns its values if the value of the first operand is true. This is a logical and operation.	398

True and False

For the purposes of conditional execution, there is a single object that counts as false, and all other objects count as true.

The false object is the constant #f. There is a canonical true object, #t, which can be used for clarity of code. #t and #f are instances of the class <boolean>.

Because all values besides #f count as true, the term "true or false" is not equivalent to "#t or #f".

The special operator ~ is used for logical negation. If its operand is true, it returns #f. If its operand is #f, it returns #t.

Dylan Reference Manual - 17 OCT 1995

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