Switch Statement in Java

The switch statement is Java's multi-way branch statement. It is used to take the place of long if-else chains, and make them more readable. However, unlike if statements, one may not use inequalities; each value must be concretely defined.

There are three critical components to the switch statement:

  • Case: This is the value that is evaluated for equivalence with the argument to the switch statement.
  • Default: This is an optional, catch-all expression, should none of the case statements evaluate to true.
  • Abrupt completion of the case statement; usually break: This is required to prevent the undesired evaluation of further case statements

Syntax

switch ( expression )
{
case 1 :
      // Block of Statement
      break;
case 2 :
      // Block of Statement
      break;
case 3 :
      // Block of Statement
      break;
case 4 :
      // Block of Statement
      break;
  .
  .
  default :
      // Block of Statement
      break;
}

Code Snippet

//Switch Statement in Java

import java.util.Scanner;

public class App {
    public static void main(String args[]) {
        int a, b, c, ch;
        System.out.println("1.Addition");
        System.out.println("2.Subtraction");
        System.out.println("3.Multiplication");
        System.out.println("4.Division");
        System.out.println("Enter Your Choice : ");
        Scanner in = new Scanner(System.in);
        ch = in.nextInt();

        System.out.println("Enter 2 Nos : ");
        a = in.nextInt();
        b = in.nextInt();

        switch (ch) {
            case 1:
                c = a + b;
                System.out.println("Addition : " + c);
                break;
            case 2:
                c = a - b;
                System.out.println("Subtraction : " + c);
                break;
            case 3:
                c = a * b;
                System.out.println("Multiplication : " + c);
                break;
            case 4:
                c = a / b;
                System.out.println("Division : " + c);
                break;
            default:
                System.out.println("Invalid Selection");
                break;
        }
    }
}