Classic switch Statement

Syntax

switch compares one value against many case labels. It is cleaner than a long else if chain when you test the same variable for exact values.

Example

public class Main {
    public static void main(String[] args) {
        int day = 3;
        switch (day) {
            case 1:
                System.out.println("Monday");
                break;
            case 2:
                System.out.println("Tuesday");
                break;
            case 3:
                System.out.println("Wednesday");
                break;
            default:
                System.out.println("Another day");
        }
    }
}

Output

Wednesday

Fall-through

Example

Without break, execution "falls through" into the next case. This is a common bug, but it is also used on purpose to group cases.

public class Main {
    public static void main(String[] args) {
        int level = 2;
        System.out.println("Unlocked features:");
        switch (level) {
            case 3:
                System.out.println(" - priority support");
            case 2:
                System.out.println(" - free delivery");
            case 1:
                System.out.println(" - order tracking");
        }

        char grade = 'B';
        switch (grade) {
            case 'A':
            case 'B':
                System.out.println("Good job");
                break;
            case 'C':
                System.out.println("You passed");
                break;
            default:
                System.out.println("Work harder");
        }
    }
}

Output

Unlocked features:
 - free delivery
 - order tracking
Good job

Rules

Allowed types: byte, short, char, int, their wrappers, String and enums (and any type with pattern matching in Java 21).
Not allowed in a classic switch: long, float, double, boolean.
Case labels must be constants and unique.
default is optional and runs when nothing matches.