Switch statements provide a way to execute different code blocks based on the value of an expression. They allow checking for multiple possible matches, unlike if statements which only check for true or false. A switch statement contains an expression to evaluate, multiple case statements to check for matches, optional break statements, and a default statement. Control flow transfers to the matched case, or the default if none match, and continues to the end of the switch or until a break is reached.

1. Switch Statements
By Enrico Valdez
Credit: Jin Castor

2. What is a switch statement?
● The switch statement provides another way to decide which statement to execute next, which is
similar to an if statement. However if statements are two way statements while switch statements
are multiway statements meaning it can check more then true or false.
● The switch statement evaluates an expression, then attempts to match the result to one of several
possible cases.
● Match must be an exact match to execute the code within the within the switch statement.

3. Syntax of a switch statement
A Switch statement contains an expression, cases, breaks, and a default. The expression is a variable for which the
cases check if they have the same value. Case statements are written with the word case and the value that you want
to compare with the expression written next to it. A break statement jumps to the end of the switch statement so
that the code does not have to run all of the cases, if it is already true for one. Defaults are the else statements of
switch statements they are executed if none of the cases are correct.

4. to Switch or not to Switch
● the value of a case cannot be a variable, boolean, float, or a double
● The case values can also not repeat
● Break statements and Defaults are not necessary when writing switch statements.

5. Syntax of a switch statement cont.

6. Flow of Control
● The flow of control transfers to the statement associated with the first case value that matches. If
a break statement is not used, the flow of control will continue into the next case until it reaches a
break statement.

7. Tracing #1
This will go through every case and
only print the default as none of the
cases match the expression.

8. Tracing #2
This will only check the
first two case statements
because the break
statement ends the
switch statement. The
third case and the
default statement will not
be checked.
*case statements do not
have to be in numerical
order

9. Tracing #3
Even though the first
case was true the
second statement will
still print because
there was not a break
statement in the first
case.