Java 12 Enhanced Switch

Classic switch (before Java 12)

public class ClassicSwitchExample {
    public static void main(String[] args) {
        String day = "Monday";
        String typeOfDay;
 
        switch (day) {
            case "Monday":
                typeOfDay = "Start of work week";
                break;
            case "Friday":
                typeOfDay = "End of work week";
                break;
            case "Saturday":
            case "Sunday":
                typeOfDay = "Weekend";
                break;
            default:
                typeOfDay = "Midweek day";
                break;
        }
 
        System.out.println(day + " is a " + typeOfDay);
    }
}

Enhanced switch (starting with Java 12)

EnhancedSwitchExample.java

public class EnhancedSwitchExample {
    public static void main(String[] args) {
        String day = "Monday";
        String typeOfDay;
 
        typeOfDay = switch (day) {
            case "Monday" -> "Start of work week";
            case "Friday" -> "End of work week";
            case "Saturday", "Sunday" -> "Weekend";
            default -> "Midweek day";
        };
 
        System.out.println(day + " is a " + typeOfDay);
    }
}

In the enhanced version, the switch is used as an expression, which means it can directly return a value.
Using the → syntax eliminates the need for the break keyword, as each case is treated as a singular expression, and there's no “fall-through” to the next case.
In the cases for Saturday and Sunday, we've combined the two cases into one for efficiency and clarity, demonstrating another improvement brought by the modern switch.

Med Java

Table of Contents

Java 12 Enhanced Switch

Classic switch (before Java 12)

Enhanced switch (starting with Java 12)