Control structures are essential components in programming that dictate the flow of execution of statements based on certain conditions. They allow developers to create more complex and dynamic programs by enabling decision-making and repetition.

There are several types of control structures, including selection structures (like the if statement), repetition structures (such as loops), and multiway selection structures (like switch statements). The if statement is a fundamental selection control structure that executes a block of code if a specified condition evaluates to true. Loops, such as while loops, allow for the repeated execution of a block of code as long as a certain condition remains true, which is crucial for tasks that require iteration, such as processing items in a list or performing calculations until a specific condition is met ³⁴.

Understanding and effectively utilizing control structures is vital for algorithm design and structured programming, as they help in organizing code and improving readability and maintainability ¹².