Exploring the switch-case syntax and structure

Introduction

Switch-case syntax is a programming structure used in many programming languages to perform different actions based on the value of a variable or expression. It provides a more efficient way to write conditional statements compared to using multiple if-else statements. In this article, we will explore the switch-case syntax and its structure in detail.

Basic Syntax

The basic syntax of a switch-case statement consists of the switch keyword followed by a variable or expression in parentheses. The body of the switch statement is enclosed in curly braces and contains one or more case blocks. Each case block specifies a value or range of values that the variable or expression can take, along with the actions to be performed if the value matches.

Example

Here’s an example of a switch-case statement in JavaScript:

switch (day) {
  case 1:
    console.log("Monday");
    break;
  case 2:
    console.log("Tuesday");
    break;
  case 3:
    console.log("Wednesday");
    break;
  default:
    console.log("Invalid day");
}

Structure and Execution Flow

When a switch-case statement is executed, the value of the variable or expression inside the switch statement is evaluated. The program then checks each case block sequentially to see if the value matches any of the specified cases. If a match is found, the corresponding actions are executed, and the break statement is used to exit the switch statement. If no match is found, the default case (if present) is executed.