then

In the context of control flow statements in X3 programming language, the "then" keyword is used to indicate the beginning of the code block associated with an "if" or "for" statement. It's often used for improved readability and clarity of code structure. Here's how the "then" keyword is typically used in conjunction with "if" and "for" statements:

Basic Usage with "if" Statement:

var x = 10

# Using 'then' with 'if' statement
if x > 5 then
    show("x is greater than 5.")
end

Explanation:

• In this example, the "then" keyword marks the beginning of the code block that should be executed if the condition (x > 5) is true.

• It helps to visually separate the condition from the code block, improving the readability of the code.

Usage with "for" Loop:

# Using 'then' with 'for' loop
for var i = 1 to 5 then
    show(i)
end

Explanation:

• Similarly, in a "for" loop, the "then" keyword indicates the beginning of the code block to be executed in each iteration.

• It serves the same purpose as in the "if" statement, enhancing code readability and organization.

Alternative Syntax:

In some programming languages, including X3, the "then" keyword is optional. You may omit it entirely, and the code will still be valid. However, using "then" can make the code more explicit and easier to understand, especially for beginners or when dealing with complex conditions and code blocks.

Example without "then":

# 'then' keyword is optional
if x > 5
    show("x is greater than 5.")
end

Explanation:

• Even without the "then" keyword, the code remains valid.

• However, including "then" can make the code structure clearer and more consistent, especially when working with multiple nested conditions and blocks.

By incorporating the "then" keyword in your X3 language, you provide users with a clear and consistent way to denote the beginning of code blocks associated with conditional statements and loops, contributing to better code readability and maintainability.