Syntax and Structure of Switch Statement

A switch statement typically consists of the following elements.

  • Switch expression: This is an expression that is evaluated to determine which case to execute. Commonly, it’s an integer or a character variable.
  • Case Statement: These statements define the different possible values the switch expression can take and the corresponding code to be executed if there’s a match.
  • Case block: This block contains the code to be executed based on the value of the switch expression.
  • Break statement: This statement terminates the execution of the case block once a matching case is found. Without a break, the program might continue executing code from subsequent cases.

The syntax and structure of switch-case statements are similar across languages, with slight syntactic variations. Here is a general template.

Code Snippet
switch (switch_expression) {
  case value1:
    // Code to execute if switch_expression equals value1
    break;
  case value2:
    // Code to execute if switch_expression equals value2
    break;
  // ... more cases
  default:
    // Code to execute if no matching case is found (optional)
}

Now let’s dive into the details of each of the components of a switch-case statement.

Switch statement in Programming

Switch statement in programming enables the execution of different code blocks based on the value of an expression, providing a structured approach to handle multiple cases efficiently. It enhances code readability and simplifies decision-making processes, making it a valuable tool for managing program flow and facilitating branching logic in software development.

Table of Content

  • What is Switch Statement?
  • Syntax and Structure of Switch Statement
  • Case Statement
  • Break Statement
  • Default Statement
  • Switch Statement in C
  • Switch Statement in C++
  • Switch Statement in Java
  • Switch Statement in Python
  • Switch Statement in C#
  • Switch Statement in JavaScript

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What is Switch Statement?

Switch statement is a fundamental building block in many programming languages. It allows us to efficiently handle situations where the program needs to perform different actions based on different values of a variable....

Syntax and Structure of Switch Statement:

A switch statement typically consists of the following elements....

Case Statement:

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Break Statement:

The break statement is an important element within the switch block. After a matching case is executed, the break statement terminates the switch block entirely, preventing the program from accidentally falling through and executing code from subsequent cases. This is also called fallthrough behaviour....

Default Statement:

The default statement in programming is a fallback option used in switch statements. It is executed when none of the case labels match the value of the expression being evaluated....

Switch Statement in C:

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Switch Statement in C++:

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Switch Statement in Python:

Before Python 3.10, there was no feature for Switch statement in Programming. In Python 3.10, they have included match and case statement to implement Switch Case in Programming. Instead of default: case, we write case _: and there is no need to write break statement after each case....

Switch Statement in C#:

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Conclusion:

The switch statement in programming allows selecting different code paths based on a variable’s value, providing a structured approach for handling multiple cases efficiently. While beneficial for readability and decision-making, it’s crucial to use switch statements judiciously and explore alternative strategies for complex logic....