Java switch statement example (switch structure and syntax)

Java switch/case statement FAQ: Can you provide an example of a Java switch statement syntax and structure?

Solution

Here's a sample Java method that takes an int argument and attempts to turn that int into a month string, using a Java switch case statement to make that decision:

private String getMonthAsString(int monthAsInt)
{
  String monthString = null;
  // the java switch/case statement
  switch (monthAsInt) {
    case  1: monthString = "January"; break;
    case  2: monthString = "February"; break;
    case  3: monthString = "March"; break;
    case  4: monthString = "April"; break;
    case  5: monthString = "May"; break;
    case  6: monthString = "June"; break;
    case  7: monthString = "July"; break;
    case  8: monthString = "August"; break;
    case  9: monthString = "September"; break;
    case 10: monthString = "October"; break;
    case 11: monthString = "November"; break;
    case 12: monthString = "December"; break;
    default: monthString = "Uh-oh!";
  }
  return monthString;
}

Note that I wrote that code that way to keep it short, but it can also be written in a longer form like this:

private String getMonthAsString(int monthAsInt)
{
  String monthString = null;
  // the java switch/case statement
  switch (monthAsInt) {
    case  1: monthString = "January";
                           break;
    case  2: monthString = "February";
                           break;
    case  3: monthString = "March";
                           break;
    case  4: monthString = "April";
                           break;
    case  5: monthString = "May";
                           break;
    case  6: monthString = "June";
                           break;
    case  7: monthString = "July";
                           break;
    case  8: monthString = "August";
                           break;
    case  9: monthString = "September";
                           break;
    case 10: monthString = "October";
                           break;
    case 11: monthString = "November";
                           break;
    case 12: monthString = "December";
                           break;
    default: monthString = "Uh-oh!";
  }
  return monthString;
}

A complete class that uses a switch statement

To take this Java switch/case statement example a little further, here's a complete Java class that uses this method and the corresponding switch statement:

package com.devdaily.javasamples;
// a java switch case statement example
public class SwitchCaseExample
{

  public static void main(String[] args)
  {
    new SwitchExample(args[0]);
  }
  
  public SwitchCaseExample(String s)
  {
    int monthAsInt = Integer.parseInt(s);
    String monthString = getMonthAsString(monthAsInt);
    System.out.println("Month entered: " + monthString);
  }

  private String getMonthAsString(int monthAsInt)
  {
    String monthString = null;
    switch (monthAsInt) {
      case 1: monthString = "January"; break;
      case 2: monthString = "February"; break;
      case 3: monthString = "March"; break;
      case 4: monthString = "April"; break;
      case 5: monthString = "May"; break;
      case 6: monthString = "June"; break;
      case 7: monthString = "July"; break;
      case 8: monthString = "August"; break;
      case 9: monthString = "September"; break;
      case 10: monthString = "October"; break;
      case 11: monthString = "November"; break;
      case 12: monthString = "December"; break;
      default: monthString = "Uh-oh!";
    }
    return monthString;
  }

}

This class accepts a command-line argument, hopes that the argument looks something like an int (otherwise the conversion will fail), and then converts that int into a String. Note that the default keyword at the bottom of the switch statement handles and int's other than 1-12.

Java switch case statement syntax example

I hope this Java switch case statement syntax example has been helpful. As usual, if there are any questions, just leave a note in the Comments section below.