Java Switch Statement Essentials

Java Switch Statement: A Comprehensive Guide

The Java switch statement is a powerful tool that allows you to execute a block of code among many alternatives. In this article, we’ll explore the syntax, working, and usage of the switch statement in Java.

How the Switch Statement Works

The switch statement evaluates an expression once and compares it with the values of each case. If the expression matches with a value, the code of that case is executed. If there’s no match, the code of the default case is executed.

Example: Using the Switch Statement

Let’s consider an example where we use the switch statement to find the size of a variable.
“`java
int number = 44;
String size;

switch (number) {
case 34:
size = “Small”;
break;
case 44:
size = “Large”;
break;
default:
size = “Unknown”;
}

System.out.println(“Size: ” + size);
“
In this example, the variablenumberis compared with the values of each case statement. Since the value matches with 44, the code of case 44 is executed, and thesize` variable is assigned the value “Large”.

Flowchart of Switch Statement

Here’s a flowchart that illustrates the working of the switch statement:

• Evaluate the expression
• Compare the expression with the values of each case
• If a match is found, execute the code of that case
• If no match is found, execute the code of the default case

Break Statement in Switch Case

Notice that we’ve been using the break statement in each case block. The break statement is used to terminate the switch-case statement. If break is not used, all the cases after the matching case are also executed.

Default Case in Java Switch-Case

The switch statement also includes an optional default case. It is executed when the expression doesn’t match any of the cases.

Data Types Supported by Switch Statement

The Java switch statement only works with the following data types:

• Primitive data types: byte, short, char, and int
• Enumerated types
• String Class
• Wrapper Classes: Character, Byte, Short, and Integer.

By understanding the syntax and working of the switch statement, you can write more efficient and readable code in Java.