for or if?

[bubblenut]

This may sound like a ridiculous question ( and it is a bit really) but I have two ways of tackling a problem one way would mean one for loop, but 5 extra if statements ( 3 of which would be run every iteration) in the for loop; the other would mean three for loops (two of which would make fewer iterations than the single one would make) but would not have the extra if statements. Which method would be quicker? Where can one find out about the speed of different control structures and functions?
Thanks in advance

[Shrike]

I would choose the one for() loop plus if's for simplicities sake. You can run a timer function and see which method is quickest. I put one on this board somewhere 😉

[swr]

I wouldn't worry about the speed difference. Control structures tend to be very fast, so the overhead is going to be nothing compared to what goes on inside the for/if.

Do whatever makes your code the most readable. You generally shouldn't optimize until you know what actually needs to be sped up.