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switch statement syntax

The switch statement is a multiway branch statement.

It provides a better alternative than a large series of if-else-if statements.

Here is the general form of a switch statement:


switch (expression) { 
case value1: 
    statement sequence 
    break; 
case value2: 
    statement sequence 
    break; 
. 
. 
. 
case valueN: 
    statement sequence 
    break; 
default: 
    default statement sequence 
}

Duplicate case values are not allowed.

A break statement jumps out of switch statement to the first line that follows the entire switch statement.

Here is a simple example that uses a switch statement:

public class Main {
  public static void main(String args[]) {
    for (int i = 0; i < 6; i++)
      switch (i) {
        case 0:
          System.out.println("i is zero.");
          break;

        case 1:
          System.out.println("i is one.");
          break;

        case 2:
          System.out.println("i is two.");
          break;

        case 3:
          System.out.println("i is three.");
          break;

        default:
          System.out.println("i is greater than 3.");
      }
  }
}

The output produced by this program is shown here:


i is zero.
i is one.
i is two.
i is three.
i is greater than 3.
i is greater than 3.

« Switch statement

The break statement is optional »

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