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Switch

The switch statement is a powerful control structure in C# that simplifies complex conditional logic, making code easier to read and maintain. We previously saw the switch statement in the cards program from an earlier chapter.

Advantages of Using Switch

Nested if statements can become difficult to read and manage. The switch construct offers a cleaner and more straightforward alternative for making multi-way decisions.

Example: Grades Program

Here’s an example illustrating the use of the switch statement in a grading system. The value of the variable grade determines which message is displayed on the screen.

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static void Main(string[] args) {
    char grade = 'B';

    switch (grade) {
        case 'A':
            Console.WriteLine("Excellent!");
            break;
        case 'B':
        case 'C':
            Console.WriteLine("Well done!");
            break;
        case 'D':
            Console.WriteLine("You passed.");
            break;
        case 'F':
            Console.WriteLine("Better try again.");
            break;
        default:
            Console.WriteLine("Invalid grade.");
            break;
    }

    Console.WriteLine($"Your grade is {grade}.");
}

Key Features of Switch

  • Conciseness: The switch statement is generally more concise than a series of if-else statements, enhancing code readability.
  • Break Statement: The use of break after each case is crucial. It exits the switch block once the matched case executes, preventing the fall-through behavior where subsequent cases would execute unintentionally. This is illustrated with cases B and C, which share the same output.
  • Default Case: If none of the specified cases match the grade, the default case executes, providing a fallback for invalid inputs.

Valid Selector Types

The switch construct can be utilized with a selector of type: - Integer - Character (char) - String - Enum (which will be introduced later)

Using a switch statement effectively can streamline your decision-making processes in programming, making your code not only shorter but also clearer and easier to follow.