Uses for switch

Question

I'm learning about how to use switch, but I have doubts about when I need to use it. Please, give me some examples in a real situation where I need to use switch.

Another thing, is the switch expression always equality? or can You use greater than, not equal.. etc..?

Is the data type of the switch always int?

Answer 1

1. If you have too many conditions to check, using if-else requires writing too long codes. In that case, switch can simplify the whole thing.
Example : Take input of a number (1-12) and output the corresponding month. Take a char input and check whether it's vowel or not. etc.

2. You can check only equality using switch in Java as far as I know.

3. In Java, you can use int, char and String as switch variable.

I'm attaching a sample code here. In this example, a month number (1-12) is input and the number of days in that month should be output. This problem can be solved with very short code if we use switch statement and break properly.

https://code.sololearn.com/cfPuvihedThI/?ref=app

Answer 2

Good info @Hadi :)

Answer 3

Thanks to Shamima Yasmin.
According to Oracle documents:
A switch works with the byte, short, char, and int primitive data types. It also works with enumerated types (discussed in Enum Types), the String class, and a few special classes that wrap certain primitive types: Character, Byte, Short, and Integer

Answer 4

Implementing a state machine is good and practical example for usage of switch-case.

Answer 5

Thanks :D