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Switch Statements

Switch statements allow selecting one of many code blocks to execute based on the value of an expression.

Why this exists​

Switch provides a more readable alternative to long chains of if-else statements when comparing a single value against multiple possibilities.

How it works​

Use switch followed by an expression, then a block containing case labels with values, and optionally a default case. Execution jumps to the matching case and continues until the end of the switch block.

Examples​

Basic switch:

set day = 3
switch day {
  case 1: print("Monday")
  case 2: print("Tuesday")
  case 3: print("Wednesday")
  default: print("Other day")
}

Switch with multiple cases:

set grade = "A"
switch grade {
  case "A": print("Excellent")
  case "B": print("Good")
  case "C": print("Average")
  default: print("Needs improvement")
}

Common mistakes​

  • Forgetting the default case for unhandled values.
  • Using non-constant values in case labels.
  • Assuming cases fall through (they don't; each case executes independently).