Switch Case Statement

Switch case is a control statement which is used to implement decision making logic. It comprises of cases which are independent decision branches. It is better substitute of if statements which has lots of conditions and cache memory issues.

C Switch Case Statement

To create switch case, C language provides switch, case and default keywords. Syntax of switch is given below.

C/C++/Java/C#/Javascript Switch Case Statement Syntax

switch(expression){
	case expression: 
		// statements
	case expression:
		// statements
	.
	.
	.
	case expression n:
		// statements
	default:
		// statements
}

Points to Remember

Switch case allows only integer and character constants in case expression. We can't use float values.
It executes case only if input value matches otherwise default case executes.
Break keyword can be used to break the control and take out control from the switch. It is optional and if not used, the control transfer to the next case.
Switch case is very useful while developing menu driven applications.
Switch cases can't have variable expressions ex. (a+2*b+3).
No duplicate case expression is allowed.

Java Switch Case Statement

Java switch is simillar to the C language switch statement and provides the same functionalities. In Java, the switch expression can be of byte, short, int, char, String and Enum type.

The type of switch expression must match to the cases type, otherwise it will generate an error.

Ruby Switch Case Statement

The switch case in Ruby, has different identifiers and syntax for declaration. The case keyword is used instead of switch, when instead of case and else instead of default.

Ruby uses === operator to match case and when expressions. Else expression executes if no when is matched.

Compares the expression specified by case and that specified by when using the === operator and executes the code of the when clause that matches.

Ruby Switch Case Syntax

case expression
[when expression [, expression ...] [then]
   code ]...
[else
   code ]
end

Rust Switch Case Statement (Pattern Matching)

Rust does not support C style switch case but has a better alternate match expression. Match expression is a concept which works on pattern matching and has brances to match the expression.

It follows value => expression syntax and match expression match to each value and execute the corresponding expression. The syntax is given below.

Rust Pattern Matching Syntax

match input_expression {
    patterns_1 => result_expression_1,
    patterns_2 => result_expression_2,
    ...
    patterns_n => result_expression_n
	_ => expression
}

We can match against literals directly, and _ acts as an 'any' case.

Swift Switch Case Statement

Swift's switch statement considered as more powerful than C type switch case. It is used to match various types of cases including range, tuple etc.

In swift, switch cases don't fall through to the lower case. The syntax of switch case is given below.

Swift Switch Case Syntax

switch value
{
case value 1: 
	respond to value 1
case value 2,value 3:
	respond to value 2 or 3
default:
	otherwise, do something else
}

Let's see an example of switch case which prints the name of the digit we pass.

C Switch Case Example 1 : Integer Input

#include <stdio.h>
int main()
{
	// integer input is provided to the switch case.
    int num = 2;
    switch(num){
        case 1:
            printf("One");
            break;
        case 2:
            printf("Two");
            break;
        case 3:
            printf("Three");
            break;
        default:
            printf("value is other than 1, 2, 3");
    }
    return 0;
}

Output:

Two

The above example prints Two based on the input and due to break it stops further execution and exit the switch block.

Java Switch Case Example 1 : Integer Input

int num = 2;
    switch(num){
        case 1:
            System.out.println("One");
            break;
        case 2:
            System.out.println("Two");
            break;
        case 3:
            System.out.println("Three");
            break;
        default:
            System.out.println("value is other than 1, 2, 3");
    }

Output:

Two

Ruby Switch Case Example : Integer Input

$num =  2
case $num
when 1
   puts "One"
when 2
   puts "Two"
when 3 
    puts "Three"
else
   puts "value is other than 1, 2, 3"
end

Output:

Two

C# Switch Case Example : Integer Input

int num = 2;
    switch(num){
        case 1:
            Console.WriteLine("One");  
            break;
        case 2:
            Console.WriteLine("Two");  
            break;
        case 3:
            Console.WriteLine("Three");  
            break;
        default:
            Console.WriteLine("value is other than 1, 2, 3");  
            break;
     }

Output:

Two

Php Switch Case Example : Integer Input

<?php
 $num = 2;
    switch($num){
        case 1:
            echo "One";
            break;
        case 2:
            echo "Two";
            break;
        case 3:
            echo "Three";
            break;
        default:
            printf("value is other than 1, 2, 3");
    }
?>

Output:

Two

Rust Switch Case Example : Integer Input

fn main() {
let num = 2;
    match num {
        1 => println!("One"),
        2 => println!("Two"),
        3 => println!("Three"),
        _ => println!("Ain't special"),
    }
}

Output:

Two

Javascript Switch Case Example : Integer Input

var val;
var num = 2;
switch(num){
        case 1:
            alert("One")
            break;
        case 2:
            alert("Two")
            break;
        case 3:
            alert("Three")
            break;
        default:
           alert("value is other than 1, 2, 3");
    }

Output:

Two

Swift Switch Case Example : Integer Input

let num = 2;
    switch(num){
        case 1:
            print("One");
            break;
        case 2:
            print("Two");
            break;
        case 3:
            print("Three");
            break;
        default:
            print("value is other than 1, 2, 3");
    }

C Switch Case Example : Integer Expression

It allows us to use integer expressions with cases. See the below example.

#include <stdio.h>
int main()
{
    int num = 3;
    switch(num){
        case 1:
            printf("One");
            break;
        case 1+1: // integer expression
            printf("Two");
            break;
        case 2+1:
            printf("Three");
            break;
        default:
            printf("value is other than 1, 2, 3");
    }
    return 0;
}

Output:

Three

Java Switch Case Example: Integer Expression

int num = 3;
    switch(num){
        case 1:
            System.out.println("One");
            break;
        case 1+1:
            System.out.println("Two");
            break;
        case 2+1:
            System.out.println("Three");
            break;
        default:
            System.out.println("value is other than 1, 2, 3");
    }

Output:

Three

Ruby Switch Case Example: Integer Expression

$num =  3
case $num
when 1
   puts "One"
when 1+1
   puts "Two"
when 2+1 
    puts "Three"
else
   puts "value is other than 1, 2, 3"
end

Output:

Three

C# Switch Case Example: Integer Expression

 int num = 3;
    switch(num){
        case 1:
            Console.WriteLine("One");  
            break;
        case 1+1:
            Console.WriteLine("Two");  
            break;
        case 2+1:
            Console.WriteLine("Three");  
            break;
        default:
            Console.WriteLine("value is other than 1, 2, 3");  
            break;
     }

Php Switch Case Example: Integer Expression

$num = 3;
    switch($num){
        case 1:
            echo "One";
            break;
        case 1+1:
            echo "Two";
            break;
        case 2+1:
            echo "Three";
            break;
        default:
            printf("value is other than 1, 2, 3");
    }

Output:

Three

Rust Switch Case: Integer Expression

Rust does not allow integer expressions into the match expression. So applying 1+2 or a+3 etc will generate error in the code.

Rust Switch Case: Integer Expression

var num = 3;
switch(num){
        case 1:
            alert("One")
            break;
        case 1+1:
            alert("Two")
            break;
        case 2+1:
            alert("Three")
            break;
        default:
           alert("value is other than 1, 2, 3");
    }

Output:

Three

Swift Switch Case: Integer Expression

let num = 3;
    switch(num){
        case 1:
            print("One");
            break;
        case 1+1:
            print("Two");
            break;
        case 2+1:
            print("Three");
            break;
        default:
            print("value is other than 1, 2, 3");
    }

C Switch Case Example: Character Constants

Integer or character constants both are supported by the switch case. A character is replaced by it's ascii value.

Note: C compiler implicitly replaces character constants into it's ASCII values, 'a' => 97.

#include <stdio.h>
int main()
{
    int num = 'a';
    switch(num){
        case 'a':
            printf("It's a");
            break;
        case 'b':
            printf("It's b");
            break;
        case 'c':
            printf("It's c");
            break;
        default:
            printf("value is other than a, b, c");
}
    return 0;
}

Output:

It's a

Java Switch Case Example: Character Constants

Integer or character constants both are supported by the switch case. A character is replaced by it's ascii value.

Note: Java implicitly replaces character constants into it's ASCII values, 'a' => 97.

int num = 'a';
    switch(num){
        case 'a':
            System.out.println("It's a");
            break;
        case 'b':
            System.out.println("It's b");
            break;
        case 'c':
            System.out.println("It's c");
            break;
        default:
            System.out.println("value is other than a, b, c");
    }

Output:

It's a

Ruby Switch Case Example: Character Constants

$num =  'a'
case $num
when 'a'
   puts "It's a"
when 'b'
   puts "It's b"
when 'c' 
    puts "It's c"
else
   puts "value is other than a, b, c"
end

Output:

It's a

C# Switch Case Example: Character Constants

int num = 'a';
    switch(num){
        case 'a':
            Console.WriteLine("It's a");  
            break;
        case 'b':
            Console.WriteLine("It's b");  
            break;
        case 'c':
            Console.WriteLine("It's c");  
            break;
        default:
            Console.WriteLine("value is other than a, b, c");  
            break;
     }

Output:

It's a

PHP Switch Case Example: Character Constants

$num = 'a';
    switch($num){
        case 'a':
            echo "It's a";
            break;
        case 'b':
            echo "It's b";
            break;
        case 'c':
            echo "It's c";
            break;
        default:
            printf("value is other than a, b, c");
    }

Output:

It's a

Rust Switch Case Example: Character Constants

let num = 'a';
    match num {
        'a' => println!("It's a"),
        'b' => println!("It's b"),
        'c' => println!("It's c"),
        _ => println!("Other than a, b, c"),
    }

Output:

It's a

Javascript Switch Case Example: Character Constants

var num = 'a';
switch(num){
        case 'a':
            alert("It's a")
            break;
        case 'b':
            alert("It's b")
            break;
        case 'c':
            alert("It's c")
            break;
        default:
           alert("value is other than a, b, c");
    }

Output:

It's a

Swift Example to match single character

let num = "a";
    switch(num){
        case "a":
            print("It's a");
            break;
        case "b":
            print("It's b");
            break;
        case "c":
            print("It's c");
            break;
        default:
            print("value is other than a, b, c");
    }

Output:

It's a

C Switch Case Example: Without Break

#include <stdio.h>
int main()
{
    int num = 2;
    switch(num){
        case 1:
            printf("One \n");
        case 2:
            printf("Two \n");
        case 3:
            printf("Three \n");
        default:
            printf("value is other than 1, 2, 3");
    }
    return 0;
}

Output:

Two 
Three 
value is other than 1, 2, 3

See, in the above example, an integer input is passed which matches to the case 2 and executes not only it but also all the other cases comes after this case including the default.

It means without break it executes other cases also until end of the switch is reached or a break is found.

Java Switch Case Example : Without Break

int num = 2;
    switch(num){
        case 1:
            System.out.println("One");
        case 2:
            System.out.println("Two");
        case 3:
            System.out.println("Three");
        default:
            System.out.println("value is other than 1, 2, 3");
    }

Output:

Two
Three
value is other than 1, 2, 3

Ruby Switch Case Example : Break

Ruby does not use break statement and in switch case it uses implicit break which does not require to add extra break.

C# Switch Case Example : Break

C# does not allow implicitly fall through from one case to another. Either we can put break explicitly or C# uses implicitly break to prevent automatic fall through from one case to another.

If we does not put break and compile the code, C# reports an error:

Error: Control cannot fall through from one case label to another.

PHP Switch Case Example : Without Break

Without break, it falls through all the cases until switch completes or finds a break.

<?php
 $num = 'a';
    switch($num){
        case 'a':
            echo "It's a\n";
        case 'b':
            echo "It's b\n";
        case 'c':
            echo "It's c\n";
        default:
            printf("value is other than a, b, c");
    }
?>

Output:

It's a
It's b
It's c
value is other than a, b, c

Javascript Switch Case Example : Without Break

It falls through to last case or till the break found. It executes all the cases after the matched case. See the example below.

var num = 'a';
switch(num){
        case 'a':
            alert("It's a")
        case 'b':
            alert("It's b")
        case 'c':
            alert("It's c")
        default:
           alert("value is other than a, b, c");
    }

Output:

It's a
It's b
It's c
value is other than a, b, c

Swift Switch Case Example : Without Break

It does not fall through even break statement is removed. It means swift does not allow fall through cases to lower in the switch.

let num = "b";
    switch(num){
        case "a":
            print("It's a");
        case "b":
            print("It's b");
        case "c":
            print("It's c");
        default:
            print("value is other than a, b, c");
    }

Somethimes we want to execute common statements for multiple cases. See an example below.

C Switch Case Statement Example : Common Statements

#include <stdio.h>
int main()
{
    int num = 'A';
    switch(num){
        case 'a':
        case 'A':
            printf("It's a \n");
            break;
        case 'b':
        case 'B':
            printf("It's b \n");
            break;
        case 'c':
        case 'C':
            printf("It's c \n");
            break;
        default:
            printf("value is other than a, b, c");
    }
    return 0;
}

Output:

It's a

Multiple cases are combined to execute the common tasks. Whether input is 'a' or 'A' it will print the same message (execute the common statements).

Java Switch Case Example: Common Statements

int num = 'A';
    switch(num){
        case 'a':
        case 'A':
            System.out.println("It's a");
            break;
        case 'b':
        case 'B':
            System.out.println("It's b");
            break;
        case 'c':
        case 'C':
            System.out.println("It's c");
            break;
        default:
            System.out.println("value is other than a, b, c");
    }

Output:

It's a

Ruby Switch Case Example: Common Statements

  when 'a':
  when 'A':
       puts "It's a"

Ruby does not work with this scenario because it breaks each when implicitly and takes control out of the case.

C# Switch Case Example: Common Statements

int num = 'A';
    switch(num){
        case 'a':
        case 'A':
            Console.WriteLine("It's a");  
            break;
        case 'b':
        case 'B':
            Console.WriteLine("It's b");  
            break;
        case 'c':
        case 'C':
            Console.WriteLine("It's c");
            break;
        default:
            Console.WriteLine("value is other than a, b, c");  
            break;
     }

Output:

It's a

Php Switch Case Example: Common Statements

<?php
 $num = 'a';
    switch($num){
        case 'a':
        case 'A':
            echo "It's a\n";
            break;
        case 'b':
        case 'B':
            echo "It's b\n";
            break;
        case 'c':
        case 'C':
            echo "It's c\n";
            break;
        default:
            printf("value is other than a, b, c");
    }
?>

Output:

It's a

Rust Switch Case Example: Common Statements

Executing common statements or mutiple patterns is pretty easy and be achived using | (or) operator.

fn main() {
let num = 'a';
    match num {
       'a' | 'A' => println!("It's a"),
       'b' | 'B' => println!("It's b"),
       'c' | 'C' => println!("It's c"),
        _ => println!("other than a, b or c"),
    }
}

Output:

It's a

Javascript Switch Case Example: Common Statements

var num = 'a';
switch(num){
        case 'a':
        case 'A':
            alert("It's a")
            break;
        case 'b':
        case 'B':
            alert("It's b")
            break;
        case 'c':
        case 'C':
            alert("It's c")
            break;
        default:
           alert("value is other than a, b, c");
    }

Swift Switch Case Example: Common Statements

It requires at least one executable statement in the case, otherwise throws an error message. See the example below.

let num = "a";
    switch(num){
        case "a":
        case "A":
            print("It's a");
        case "b":
            print("It's b");
        case "c":
            print("It's c");
        default:
            print("value is other than a, b, c");
    }

Output:

error: 'case' label in a 'switch' should have at least one executable statement.

To achieve it, Swift provides a new concept the use of , (comma) to provide multiple cases. See an example below.

let num = "a";
    switch(num){
        case "a","A":
            print("It's a");
        case "b","B":
            print("It's b");
        case "c":
            print("It's c");
        default:
            print("value is other than a, b, c");
    }

Output:

It's a

Java Switch Case Example: String Input

String name = "Sunday";
    switch(name){
        case "Monday":
            System.out.println("Monday");
            break;
        case "Tuesday":
            System.out.println("Tuesday");
            break;
        case "Wednesday":
            System.out.println("Wednesday");
            break;
        case "Thursday":
            System.out.println("Thursday");
            break;
        case "Friday":
            System.out.println("Friday");
            break;
        case "Saturday":
            System.out.println("Saturday");
            break;
        case "Sunday":
            System.out.println("Sunday");
            break;
        default:
            System.out.println("Value is not a valid day");
    }

Output:

Sunday

Ruby Switch Case Example: String Input

$num =  "Sunday"
case $num
when "Monday"
   puts "Monday"
when "Tuesday"
   puts "Tuesday"
when "Wednesday"
    puts "Wednesday"
when "Thursday"
    puts "Thursday"
when "Friday"
    puts "Friday"
when "Saturday"
    puts "Saturday"
when "Sunday"
   puts "Sunday"
else
   puts "Value is not a valid day"
end

Output:

Sunday

C# Switch Case Example: String Input

String name = "Sunday";
    switch(name){
        case "Monday":
            Console.WriteLine("Monday");  
            break;
        case "Tuesday":
                   Console.WriteLine("Tuesday");  
            break;
        case "Wednesday":
                   Console.WriteLine("Wednesday");  
            break;
        case "Thursday":
                   Console.WriteLine("Thursday");  
            break;
        case "Friday":
                   Console.WriteLine("Friday");  
            break;
        case "Saturday":
                   Console.WriteLine("Saturday");  
            break;
        case "Sunday":
                   Console.WriteLine("Sunday");  
            break;
        default:
                   Console.WriteLine("other than a day");  
                   break;
    }

Output:

Sunday

Php Switch Case Example: String Input

<?php
 $name = "Sunday";
    switch($name){
        case "Monday":
            echo "Monday";
            break;
        case "Tuesday":
            echo "Tuesday";
            break;
        case "Wednesday":
            echo "Wednesday";
            break;
        case "Thursday":
            echo "Thursday";
            break;
        case "Friday":
            echo "Friday";
            break;
        case "Saturday":
            echo "Saturday";
            break;
        case "Sunday":
            echo "Sunday";
            break;
        default:
            echo "Other than a day";    
            break;
    }
    ?>

Rust Switch Case Example: String Input

let num = "Sunday";
    match num {
        "Monday"    => println!("Monday"),
        "Tuesday"   => println!("Tuesday"),
        "Wednesday" => println!("Tuesday"),
        "Thursday"  => println!("Tuesday"),
        "Friday"    => println!("Friday"),
        "Saturday"  => println!("Saturday"),
        "Sunday"    => println!("Sunday"),
        _ => println!("Other than day"),
    }

Output:

Sunday

Javascript Switch Case Example: String Input

var num = "Sunday";
switch(num){
        case "Monday":
            alert("Monday")
            break;
        case "Tuesday":
            alert("Tuesday")
            break;
        case "Wednesday":
            alert("Wednesday")
            break;
        case "Thursday":
            alert("Thursday")
            break;
        case "Friday":
            alert("Friday")
            break;
        case "Saturday":
            alert("Saturday")
            break;
        case "Sunday":
            alert("Sunday")
            break;
        default:
           alert("Not a valid day");
    }

Output:

Sunday

Swift Switch Case Example: String Input

let num = "Sunday";
    switch(num){
        case "Sunday":
            print("Sunday");
            break;
        case "Monday":
            print("Monday");
            break;
        case "Tuesday":
            print("Tuesday");
            break;
        case "Wednesday":
            print("Wednesday");
            break;
        case "Thursday":
            print("Thursday");
            break;
        case "Friday":
            print("Friday");
            break;
        case "Saturday":
            print("Saturday");
            break;
        case "Sunday":
            print("Sunday");
            break;
        default:
            print("It is not a valid day");
    }

Output:

Sunday

Ruby Switch Case Example: Input Range

When expression is given in range and the input is matche within specified range and executes code. See the example below.

$age =  5
case $age
when 0 .. 2
   puts "baby"
when 3 .. 6
   puts "little child"
when 7 .. 12
   puts "child"
when 13 .. 18
   puts "young"
else
   puts "adult"
end

Output:

little child

Rust Switch Case Example: Input Range

Pattern value can lie between the range and mached to evaluate expression.

fn main() {
let num = 5;
    match num {    0 ... 2 =>  println!("baby"),
    3 ... 6 => println!("little child"),
    7 ... 12 => println!("child"),
    13 ... 18 => println!("young"),
    _ => println!("adult"),
    }
}

Output:

little child

c, c++, java, c#, ruby, php, rust, javascript, python, swift

fn main() { let number = 13; match number { // Match a single value 1 => println!("One!"), // Match several values 2 | 3 | 5 | 7 | 11 => println!("This is a prime"), // Match an inclusive range 13...19 => println!("A teen"), // Handle the rest of cases _ => println!("Ain't special"), } }

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Programming Concepts

Switch Case Statement

C Switch Case Statement

C/C++/Java/C#/Javascript Switch Case Statement Syntax

Points to Remember

Java Switch Case Statement

Ruby Switch Case Statement

Ruby Switch Case Syntax

Rust Switch Case Statement (Pattern Matching)

Rust Pattern Matching Syntax

Swift Switch Case Statement

Swift Switch Case Syntax

C Switch Case Example 1 : Integer Input

Java Switch Case Example 1 : Integer Input

Ruby Switch Case Example : Integer Input

C# Switch Case Example : Integer Input

Php Switch Case Example : Integer Input

Rust Switch Case Example : Integer Input

Javascript Switch Case Example : Integer Input

Swift Switch Case Example : Integer Input

C Switch Case Example : Integer Expression

Java Switch Case Example: Integer Expression

Ruby Switch Case Example: Integer Expression

C# Switch Case Example: Integer Expression

Php Switch Case Example: Integer Expression

Rust Switch Case: Integer Expression

Swift Switch Case: Integer Expression

C Switch Case Example: Character Constants

Note: C compiler implicitly replaces character constants into it's ASCII values, 'a' => 97.

Java Switch Case Example: Character Constants

Note: Java implicitly replaces character constants into it's ASCII values, 'a' => 97.

Ruby Switch Case Example: Character Constants

C# Switch Case Example: Character Constants

PHP Switch Case Example: Character Constants

Rust Switch Case Example: Character Constants

Javascript Switch Case Example: Character Constants

Swift Example to match single character

C Switch Case Example: Without Break

Java Switch Case Example : Without Break

Ruby Switch Case Example : Break

C# Switch Case Example : Break

PHP Switch Case Example : Without Break

Javascript Switch Case Example : Without Break

Swift Switch Case Example : Without Break

C Switch Case Statement Example : Common Statements

Java Switch Case Example: Common Statements

Ruby Switch Case Example: Common Statements

C# Switch Case Example: Common Statements

Php Switch Case Example: Common Statements

Rust Switch Case Example: Common Statements

Javascript Switch Case Example: Common Statements

Swift Switch Case Example: Common Statements

Java Switch Case Example: String Input

Ruby Switch Case Example: String Input

C# Switch Case Example: String Input

Php Switch Case Example: String Input

Rust Switch Case Example: String Input

Javascript Switch Case Example: String Input

Swift Switch Case Example: String Input

Ruby Switch Case Example: Input Range

Rust Switch Case Example: Input Range

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