---
name: "Perl::Critic::Policy::ControlStructures::ProhibitCascadingIfElse"
section: "3pm"
platform: "linux"
package: "perl-perl-critic"
version: "1.156-3"
release: "Arch Linux 2026-11-01"
platforms: ["linux"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/Perl::Critic::Policy::ControlStructures::ProhibitCascadingIfElse"
---

# Perl::Critic::Policy::ControlStructures::ProhibitCascadingIfElse(3pm)

Don't write long "if-elsif-elsif-elsif-elsif...else" chains.

## NAME

Perl::Critic::Policy::ControlStructures::ProhibitCascadingIfElse - Don't write long "if-elsif-elsif-elsif-elsif...else" chains.

## AFFILIATION

This Policy is part of the core Perl::Critic distribution.

## DESCRIPTION

Long `"if-elsif"` chains are hard to digest, especially if they are longer than a single page or screen.  If testing for equality, use a hash lookup instead.

```
    if ($condition1) {         #ok
        $foo = 1;
    }
    elsif ($condition2) {      #ok
        $foo = 2;
    }
    elsif ($condition3) {      #ok
        $foo = 3;
    }
    elsif ($condition4) {      #too many!
        $foo = 4;
    }
    else {                     #ok
        $foo = $default;
    }
```

## CONFIGURATION

This policy can be configured with a maximum number of `"elsif"` alternatives to allow.  The default is 2.  This can be specified via a `"max_elsif"` item in the *.perlcriticrc* file:

```
    [ControlStructures::ProhibitCascadingIfElse]
    max_elsif = 3
```

## AUTHOR

Jeffrey Ryan Thalhammer \<jeff@imaginative-software.com\>

## COPYRIGHT

Copyright (c) 2005-2022 Imaginative Software Systems.  All rights reserved.

This program is free software; you can redistribute it and/or modify it under the same terms as Perl itself.  The full text of this license can be found in the LICENSE file included with this module.