🔀 switch Statement in C
🔍 Short Explanation:
The switch
statement in C is used to perform different actions based on the value of a variable or expression. It's ideal for handling multiple fixed conditions cleanly.
✅ Syntax
switch (expression) { case constant1: // code block break; case constant2: // code block break; ... default: // optional block }
📋 Example
#include <stdio.h> int main() { int day = 3; switch (day) { case 1: printf("Monday\\n"); break; case 2: printf("Tuesday\\n"); break; case 3: printf("Wednesday\\n"); break; default: printf("Invalid day\\n"); } return 0; }
🧠 Output: Wednesday
💡 Common Use Cases
- Menu-based programs
- Day/month selection
- Character or integer options
⚠️ Tips & Mistakes to Avoid
- Don’t forget
break;
to prevent fall-through - Each
case
must use a constant or literal value - Use
default
to handle unexpected values
📌 Summary
The switch
statement is a cleaner alternative to multiple if-else
checks. It's best used when evaluating one variable against many fixed options.