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switch statement – JavaScript

Summary

const myString = 'First';

switch (myString) {
  case 'First':
    // Insert code here
    break;
  case 'Second':
    // Insert code here
    break;
  case 'Third':
    // Insert code here
    break;
  default:
    // Insert code here
}

Details

A switch statement works by trying to match an expression passed into it to one of the cases listed inside of it.

In the example above, if myString contained the string 'First', then the statements inside of the first case would be executed. Likewise, if myString contained the string 'Second', then the statements inside the second case would be executed, and the pattern continues from there.

The break keyword breaks out of the switch statement. Most cases typically end with the break keyword, but it’s technically optional. If a case does not end with the break keyword, then the statements inside the case next are executed until the computer encounters a break keyword or the switch statement ends.

The statements after the default case are executed if the expression passed in to the switch statement doesn’t match any of the other cases. If the default statement is the last case, it does not need to end with the break keyword.

A switch statement doesn’t have to use strings. You can use numbers as well.

const myNumber = 1;

switch (myNumber) {
  case 1:
    // Insert code here
    break;
  case 2:
    // Insert code here
    break;
  case 3:
    // Insert code here
    break;
  default:
    // Insert code here
}

Demo

Exercises

Try the following statements in the console:

const myString = 'First';
let word;

switch (myString) {
  case 'First':
    word = 'First';
    break;
  case 'Second':
    word = 'Second';
    break;
  case 'Third':
    word = 'Third';
    break;
  default:
    word = 'default';
}

The output should be ‘First’.

References

switch statement on MDN

Back to: JavaScript Reference > JS Conditional Statements