The document describes the syntax and use of switch case statements in C++. It explains that switch case provides an alternative to nested if-else statements for decisions with multiple outcomes. The key aspects of switch case syntax are presented, including using cases with numerical values and a default. Examples are given to demonstrate when to use switch case over if-else.
The document describes the syntax and use of switch case statements in C++. It explains that switch case provides an alternative to nested if-else statements for decisions with multiple outcomes. The key aspects of switch case syntax are presented, including using cases with numerical values and a default. Examples are given to demonstrate when to use switch case over if-else.
The document describes the syntax and use of switch case statements in C++. It explains that switch case provides an alternative to nested if-else statements for decisions with multiple outcomes. The key aspects of switch case syntax are presented, including using cases with numerical values and a default. Examples are given to demonstrate when to use switch case over if-else.
The document describes the syntax and use of switch case statements in C++. It explains that switch case provides an alternative to nested if-else statements for decisions with multiple outcomes. The key aspects of switch case syntax are presented, including using cases with numerical values and a default. Examples are given to demonstrate when to use switch case over if-else.
Identify when to apply switch case statements instead of
nested if-else Switch Case Statement Syntax
Swith Case Statement Syntax
The switch case statement is a way to make a decision with multiple possible outcomes. Instead of nesting or sequencing many if statements, C++ allows you to write the following:
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Here are the rules for writing a switch case statement:
Start with switch followed by the variable that is going to be tested in
parentheses (). All of the cases are surrounded by a set of curly braces {}. Each case is followed by a numerical value and a colon :. After each :, write the code that should run if the variable is equal to that case’s value. After each section of code per case, include break;. As the very last case, use default: to specify what should happen if none of the above cases are true. int dayOfWeek = 3;
switch (dayOfWeek) {
case 1: cout << "Sunday"; //only prints if dayOfWeek == 1
break; case 2: cout << "Monday"; //only prints if dayOfWeek == 2 break; case 3: cout << "Tuesday"; //only prints if dayOfWeek == 3 break; case 4: cout << "Wednesday"; //only prints if dayOfWeek == 4 break; case 5: cout << "Thursday"; //only prints if dayOfWeek == 5 break; case 6: cout << "Friday"; //only prints if dayOfWeek == 6 break; case 7: cout << "Saturday"; //only prints if dayOfWeek == 7 break; default: cout << "Invalid"; //only prints if none of the above are true
}
Code Visualizer
challenge
What happens if you:
Assign dayOfWeek to 5? Assign dayOfWeek to 0? Assign dayOfWeek to 3 and remove all of the break; statements?
Code Visualizer Switch Case vs. If Else
Switch Case vs. Else If
C++ allows you to use either switch case or a series of else if statements to handle decisions with multiple outcomes. There are a couple of reasons why you would use one method over the other.
#1: Else If is used for ranges of values - Switch Case is for
specific values
switch case can only check for equality (e.g. num == 5), so if you need to check for a range of values (e.g. num > 50 && num <= 60), use else If instead.
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What is case 10: case 9:?
Sometimes, the code for multiple cases is the same. Instead of repeating code, you can list multiple cases before the code. Here is another example: int month = 2; int year = 2000; int numDays = 0;
switch (month) { case 1: case 3: case 5: case 7: case 8: case 10: case 12: numDays = 31; break; case 4: case 6: case 9: case 11: numDays = 30; break; case 2: if (((year % 4 == 0) && ! (year % 100 == 0)) || (year % 400 == 0)) numDays = 29; else numDays = 28; break; default: cout << "Invalid month."; break; } cout << "Number of Days = " << numDays << endl;
In some cases, as shown above, you can exploit patterns to force ranges into a switch case, but frequently that is not possible and it also makes the code less readable. For example, above, the user has to realize that letterGrade is using integer division to retrieve the tens place of the original grade. int grade = 62; int letterGrade = grade / 10; switch (letterGrade) { case 10: case 9: cout << "A"; break; case 8: cout << "B"; break; case 7: cout << "C"; break; case 6: cout << "D"; break; default: cout << "F"; }
Code Visualizer
#2: Else If is used for handling multiple variables
switch case can only compare against values - not variables. For example, if you wanted to compare the inputted day of the week with the current day of the week, you would need to use else if. switch case can handle values (dayOfWeek == "Sunday") but not variables (dayOfWeek == today).
#3: Else If is used for compound conditionals
To check multiple conditions, an else if is needed.
Below is an example of a multiple choice grader using switch case:
int studentAnswer = 3; string feedback1 = "This answer is wrong because...."; string feedback2 = "This answer is correct! You know this because..."; string feedback3 = "This answer is wrong. While the first part is correct..."; string feedback;
int correctAnswer = 2; int points = 0;
switch (studentAnswer) { case 1: feedback = feedback1; break; case 2: feedback = feedback2; break; case 3: feedback = feedback3; break; default: feedback = "Invalid answer choice"; }
cout << feedback << endl;
challenge
Switch Case to Else If
Change the switch case statements above into else if statements.
Add a check to see if studentAnswer == correctAnswer. If the student’s answer is correct, increment (++) the points variable. Print out the student’s earned points at the end of the program using the points variable.
