Java switch Statement
In this tutorial, you will learn to use the switch statement in Java to control the
flow of your program’s execution with the help of examples.
The switch statement allows us to execute a block of code among many
alternatives.
The syntax of the switch statement in Java is:
switch (expression) {
case value1:
// code
break;
case value2:
// code
break;
...
...
default:
// default statements
}
How does the switch-case statement work?
The expression is evaluated once and compared with the values of each case.
• If expression matches with value1 , the code of case value1 are executed.
Similarly, the code of case value2 is executed if expression matches with value2 .
• If there is no match, the code of the default case is executed.
Note: The working of the switch-case statement is similar to the Java
if...else...if ladder. However, the syntax of the switch statement is cleaner and
much easier to read and write.
Example: Java switch Statement
// Java Program to check the size
// using the switch...case statement
class Main {
public static void main(String[] args) {
int number = 44;
String size;
// switch statement to check size
switch (number) {
case 29:
size = "Small";
break;
case 42:
size = "Medium";
break;
// match the value of week
case 44:
size = "Large";
break;
case 48:
size = "Extra Large";
break;
default:
size = "Unknown";
break;
}
System.out.println("Size: " + size);
}
}
Run Code
Output:
Size: Large
In the above example, we have used the switch statement to find the size.
Here, we have a variable number . The variable is compared with the value of
each case statement.
Since the value matches with 44, the code of case 44 is executed.
size = "Large";
break;
Here, the size variable is assigned with the value Large .
Recommended Reading: Create a Simple Calculator Using the Java switch
Statement
Flowchart of switch Statement
Flow chart of the Java
switch statement
break statement in Java switch...case
Notice that we have been using break in each case block.
...
case 29:
size = "Small";
break;
...
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. For
example,
class Main {
public static void main(String[] args) {
int expression = 2;
// switch statement to check size
switch (expression) {
case 1:
System.out.println("Case 1");
// matching case
case 2:
System.out.println("Case 2");
case 3:
System.out.println("Case 3");
default:
System.out.println("Default case");
}
}
}
Run Code
Output
Case 2
Case 3
Default case
In the above example, expression matches with case 2 . Here, we haven't used
the break statement after each case.
Hence, all the cases after case 2 are also executed.
This is why the break statement is needed to terminate the switch-
case statement after the matching case. To learn more, visit Java break
Statement.
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. For example,
class Main {
public static void main(String[] args) {
int expression = 9;
switch(expression) {
case 2:
System.out.println("Small Size");
break;
case 3:
System.out.println("Large Size");
break;
// default case
default:
System.out.println("Unknown Size");
}
}
}
Run Code
Output
Unknown Size
In the above example, we have created a switch-case statement. Here, the
value of expression doesn't match with any of the cases.
Hence, the code inside the default case is executed.
default:
System.out.println("Unknown Size);
Note: The Java switch statement only works with:
• Primitive data types: byte, short, char, and int
• Enumerated types
• String Class
• Wrapper Classes: Character, Byte, Short, and Integer.
