Selection Statement – Switch Statement

The switch statement in C++ is a control statement that allows you to execute different blocks of code based on the value of an expression. The general syntax of a switch statement is as follows:

switch (expression) {
  case value1:
    // code to execute if expression equals value1
  case value2:
    // code to execute if expression equals value2
  ...
  default:
    // code to execute if expression does not equal any of the values in the case statements
}

The expression can be any integer expression. The switch statement evaluates the expression and compares it to the values of the case statements. If the expression equals one of the values in the case statements, the code block inside that case statement is executed. If the expression does not equal any of the values in the case statements, the code block inside the default statement is executed.

Here is an example of a switch statement:

#include <iostream>

using namespace std;

int main()
{
    int x = 0;
    cin >> x;
    
    switch (x)
    {
        case 1: cout << "case #1" << endl;
            break;
        case 2: cout << "case #2" << endl;
            break;
        case 3: cout << "case #3" << endl;
            break;
        default:
            cout << "Out of range" << endl;
            break;
    }
    
    return 0;
}

You can also use characters instead of numbers in switch statement. For Example:

#include <iostream>

using namespace std;

int main()
{
    char c = 'a';
    
    switch (c)
    {
        case 'a': cout << "case #a" << endl;
            break;
        case 'b': cout << "case #b" << endl;
            break;
        default:
            cout << "Out of range" << endl;
            break;
    }
    
    return 0;
}

Output will be:

case #a

Remember!
Using a capital letter like ‘A’ in the previous example is not like using a small letter like ‘a’. They are not the same!

Benefits of using switch statements

Switch statements can be more efficient than using a series of if statements, especially when there are many different cases. Switch statements can also make your code more readable and maintainable.

Conclusion

Switch statements are a powerful tool for controlling the flow of your C++ program. By understanding how to use them, you can write more efficient and reliable code.