Click here for Part 1 of this series.
Click here for Part 2 of this series.

Here, I’m going to take a look at the condition part of the if statement. In particular, how best to write a complex condition to allow for readability and easy code maintenance. Sometimes even just a small number of ANDs and ORs can be easy to write but difficult to untangle later. Add in some brackets for changes in operator priority and the picture becomes even worse. I will refrain from filling up this post with words because I think the example below will provide most of the colour and information I’m trying to impart on the topic.

if (conditionA || (conditionB && conditionC) || (conditionD || conditionE)) {
  doSomething();
}

Figure 1, above, equates to the following:

if A OR (B AND C) OR (D OR E) then do something

When you substitute the conditions for real-world variables, function/method calls or complex structure sub-fields, the results can be less than legible. But, apply a little indentation and split your conditions up and you suddenly have some clarity.

if (
       conditionA
       ||
       (
           conditionB
           &&
           conditionC
       )
       ||
       (
           conditionD
           ||
           conditionE
       )
   ) {
  doSomething();
}

Figure 2, above, is functionally identical to Figure 1. Do you think it’s more readable? Easier to maintain?

A little tip for those engaged in writing complex Force.com custom formula fields with if statements: try using the same method .