The switch Statement in JavaScript

The switch statement is a clean way to handle multiple possible values of a variable. It's often used instead of long chains of if/else if when checking the same expression against different values.

It makes code more readable for cases like menu choices, days of week, or status codes.

Basic switch Syntax

break stops execution after a matching case. Without break, execution 'falls through' to the next case.

Multiple Cases for Same Action

The default Case

default runs when no case matches – like else in if statements.

Fall-Through Behavior

If you forget break, execution continues to the next case – sometimes useful intentionally.

switch vs if/else

Use switch when comparing one value against many constants. Use if/else for complex conditions (ranges, multiple variables).

Quick Quiz