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Switch Statement in C

The switch statement in C is used for decision-making. It allows the program to execute a block of code when a specified case value is true and execute a different block when the condition is false.

The Switch statement is used for handling multiple conditions, similar to if-else if statements.

The difference in both is that if-else if can check multiple conditions, while switch checks one value against different cases.

Syntax:

switch(expression) {
     case value1:
         // Code to execute if expression == value1
         break;
     case value2:
         // Code to execute if expression == value2
         break;
     default:
         // Code to execute if no cases match
}
Example 1: Check Day of the Week

This program takes a number (1-7) as input and displays the corresponding day of the week using a switch statement.

#include <stdio.h>

int main() {
    int day;

    printf("Enter a number (1-7) for the day of the week: ");
    scanf("%d", &day);

    switch (day) {
        case 1:
            printf("Monday\n");
            break;
        case 2:
            printf("Tuesday\n");
            break;
        case 3:
            printf("Wednesday\n");
            break;
        case 4:
            printf("Thursday\n");
            break;
        case 5:
            printf("Friday\n");
            break;
        case 6:
            printf("Saturday\n");
            break;
        case 7:
            printf("Sunday\n");
            break;
        default:
            printf("Invalid input!\n");
    }

    return 0;
}

Output:

Enter a number (1-7): 3
Wednesday
Enter a number (1-7): 9
Invalid input!
Example 2: Menu Selection Using Switch

This program displays a menu of food items and asks the user to enter a choice. Based on the selection, the program prints the corresponding item using a switch statement.

#include <stdio.h>
int main() {
     int choice;

     printf("Menu:\n");
     printf("1. Pizza\n");
     printf("2. Burger\n");
     printf("3. Pasta\n");
     printf("Enter your choice (1-3): ");
     scanf("%d", &choice);

     switch (choice) {
         case 1:
             printf("You selected Pizza.\n");
             break;
         case 2:
             printf("You selected Burger.\n");
             break;
         case 3:
             printf("You selected Pasta.\n");
             break;
         default:
             printf("Invalid choice! Please select between 1-3.\n");
     }

     return 0;
}

Output:

Menu:
1. Pizza
2. Burger
3. Pasta
Enter your choice (1-3): 2
You selected Burger.
Example 3: Simple Calculator Using Switch

This program takes two numbers and an operator as input and performs the corresponding arithmetic operation using a switch statement.

#include <stdio.h>
    int main() {
        int num1, num2, result;
        char op;
        
        printf("Enter first number: ");
        scanf("%d", &num1);
        printf("Enter an operator (+, -, *, /): ");
        scanf(" %c", &op);
        printf("Enter second number: ");
        scanf("%d", &num2);
        
        switch (op) {
            case '+':
                result = num1 + num2;
                printf("Result: %d\n", result);
                break;
            case '-':
                result = num1 - num2;
                printf("Result: %d\n", result);
                break;
            case '*':
                result = num1 * num2;
                printf("Result: %d\n", result);
                break;
            case '/':
                result = num1 / num2;
                printf("Result: %d\n", result);
                break;
            default:
                printf("Invalid operator! Please use +, -, *, or /.\n");
             }
        
             return 0;
        }

Output:

Enter first number: 10
Enter an operator (+, -, *, /): *
Enter second number: 5
Result: 50

Enter first number: 12
Enter an operator (+, -, *, /): %
Enter second number: 6
Invalid operator! Please use +, -, *, or /.