Switch Statements

Comparing Exact Values

 The Switch Statement
• The switch statement
provides another way to
decide which statement to switch ( expression ){
execute next case value1 :
statement-list1
• The switch statement case value2 :
evaluates an expression, statement-list2
then attempts to match the case value3 :
result to one of several statement-list3
possible cases case ...
• The match must be an exact }
match.

2
 The Switch Statement
• Each case
contains a value switch ( expression ){
and a list of case value1 :
statements statement-list1
case value2 :
• The flow of control statement-list2
case value3 :
transfers to statement-list3
statement case ...
associated with
the first case value }
that matches
3
 Switch - syntax
• The general syntax of a switch statement is:
switch
switch ( expression ){
and case value1 :
case
statement-list1
are case value2 :
reserved statement-list2
words case value3 :
statement-list3
case ...
If expression
} matches value3,
control jumps
to here
 The Switch Statement
• The break statement can
switch ( expression ){
be used as the last
case value1 :
statement in each case's statement-list1
statement list break;
case value2 :
• A break statement statement-list2
causes control to transfer break;
to the end of the switch case value3 :
statement statement-list3
break;
• If a break statement is case ...
not used, the flow of
control will continue into }
the next case
 Switch Example
• Examples of the switch statement:
switch (option){
case 'A':
aCount++;
break;
case 'B':
bCount++;
break;
case 'C':
cCount++;
break;
}
 Switch – no breaks!!!
• Another Example:
switch (option){
case 'A': switch (option){
aCount++; case 'A':
break; aCount++;
case 'B': case 'B':
bCount++; bCount++;
break; case 'C':
case 'C': cCount++;
cCount++; }
break;
}
 Switch - default
• A switch statement can have an optional
default case
• The default case has no associated value and
simply uses the reserved word default

• If the default case is present, control will transfer

to it if no other case value matches
• If there is no default case, and no other value
matches, control falls through to the statement
after the switch
 The switch Statement

• Switch switch (option){

with case 'A':
aCount++;
default break;
case: case 'B':
bCount++;
break;
case 'C':
cCount++;
break;
default:
otherCount++;
break;
}
 To Switch or not to Switch
• The expression of a switch statement must result in an
integral type, meaning an integer (byte, short, int,
long) or a char
• It cannot be a boolean value or a floating point value
(float or double)
• The implicit boolean condition in a switch statement is
equality
• You cannot perform relational checks with a switch
statement
Questions??

To switch or not to
switch, that’s the
question….

java/Switch/SwitchExample.java
SwitchNboolean.java
SwithcNothers.java