Switch statement

<p>In <a href="/facts/Computer_programming_language/cWTYbgWa">computer programming languages</a>, a switch statement is a type of selection control mechanism used to allow the value of a <a href="/facts/Variable_(programming)/VoCKtwml">variable</a> or expression to change the <a href="/facts/Control_flow/2XTDfErC">control flow</a> of program execution via search and map.
</p><p>Switch statements function somewhat similarly to the if statement used in programming languages like <a href="/facts/C_(programming_language)/Ky2No763">C</a>/<a href="/facts/C%252B%252B/Et0F2qn9">C++</a>, <a href="/facts/C_Sharp_(programming_language)/UC2gxeyb">C#</a>, <a href="/facts/Visual_Basic_.NET/09mPEo4q">Visual Basic .NET</a>, <a href="/facts/Java_(programming_language)/9ScgFyAL">Java</a> and exist in most high-level <a href="/facts/Imperative_programming/6b5dUnE1">imperative programming</a> languages such as <a href="/facts/Pascal_(programming_language)/b3yvp8bF">Pascal</a>, <a href="/facts/Ada_(programming_language)/Y2yHel4l">Ada</a>, <a href="/facts/C_(programming_language)/Ky2No763">C</a>/<a href="/facts/C%252B%252B/Et0F2qn9">C++</a>, <a href="/facts/C_Sharp_(programming_language)/UC2gxeyb">C#</a>,: 374–375  <a href="/facts/Visual_Basic_.NET/09mPEo4q">Visual Basic .NET</a>, <a href="/facts/Java_(programming_language)/9ScgFyAL">Java</a>,: 157–167  and in many other types of language, using such <a href="/facts/Keyword_(computer_programming)/pHDlUUgY">keywords</a> as switch, case, select, or inspect.
</p><p>Switch statements come in two main variants: a structured switch, as in Pascal, which takes exactly one branch, and an unstructured switch, as in C, which functions as a type of <a href="/facts/Goto/kWdNKT2M">goto</a>. The main reasons for using a switch include improving clarity, by reducing otherwise repetitive coding, and (if the <a href="/facts/Heuristic/BcBEkv9c">heuristics</a> permit) also offering the potential for faster execution through easier <a href="/facts/Compiler_optimization/JXnv4LUd">compiler optimization</a> in many cases.
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An example of a switch statement in C<table><tbody><tr><td>switch (age) {  case 1:  printf("You're one.");            break;  case 2:  printf("You're two.");            break;  case 3:  printf("You're three.");  case 4:  printf("You're three or four.");  break;  default: printf("You're not 1, 2, 3 or 4!");}</td></tr></tbody></table>

Switch statement open-in-new

Switch statement