C# by Example: Switch

Switch statements can work like an if/else statement, but instead of checking every condition in order, the code execution will jump to a single branch. This can be a much more efficient way to check a lot of conditions, when only one case could be true.


public class SwitchExample {
    public enum Sport
    {
        Football,
        Baseball,
        IceHockey,
        Basketball
    }
    public void Main()
    {
        int i = 2;
        switch (i)
        {
            case 0:
                Console.Write("Zero");
                break;

Curly braces can be included for readability in longer switch statements.


            case 1:
            {
                Console.Write("One");
                break;
            }
            case 2:
                Console.Write("Two");
                break;

if you don't include the 'break', then the code will "fall through", until you do hit a break.
This can be convenient for handling more complex cases.


            case 3:
            case 4:
            case 5:
                Console.Write("Three-through-Five");
                break;
            case 6:
                Console.Write("Six");
                break;
            default:
                Console.Write("Some Number");
                break;
        }

It's useful to use a switch statement when working with enums.


        Sport sport = Sport.Football;
        string objectShape = "";
        switch (sport)
        {
            case Sport.IceHockey:
                objectShape = "Short Cylinder";
                break;
            case Sport.Football:
                objectShape = "Prolate Spheroid";
                break;
            case Sport.Baseball:
            case Sport.Basketball:
                objectShape = "Sphere";
                break;
            default:
                objectShape = "Unknown";
                break;
        }
        Console.WriteLine($"{sport.ToString()} uses    a {objectShape} shape item.");
    }
}

Next example: Exceptions.