switch Statement (JavaScript)

Enables the execution of one or more statements when a specified expression's value matches a label.

Syntax

switch (expression) {  
    case label :  
        statementlist  
    case label :  
    default :  
        statementlist  
}   

Parameters

expression
The expression to be evaluated.

label
An identifier to be matched against expression. If label is an expression, execution starts with the statementlist immediately after the colon, and continues until it encounters either a break statement, which is optional, or the end of the switch statement.

statementlist
One or more statements to be executed.

Remarks

Use the default clause to provide a statement to be executed if none of the label values matches expression. It can appear anywhere within the switch code block.

Zero or more label blocks may be specified. If no label matches the value of expression, and a default case is not supplied, no statements are executed.

Execution flows through a switch statement as follows:

• Evaluate expression and look at label in order until a match is found.

• If a label value equals expression, execute its accompanying statementlist.

  Continue execution until a break statement is encountered, or the switch statement ends. This means that multiple label blocks are executed if a break statement is not used.

• If no label equals expression, go to the default case. If there is no default case, go to last step.

• Continue execution at the statement following the end of the switch code block.

Example

The following example tests an object for its type.

function MyObjectType(obj) {  
    switch (obj.constructor) {  
        case Date:  
            document.write("Object is a Date.");  
            break;  
        case Number:  
            document.write("Object is a Number.");  
            break;  
        case String:  
            document.write("Object is a String.");  
            break;  
        default:  
            document.write("Object is unknown.");  
    }  
}  

// Output when obj is a Date:  
// Object is a Date.  

// Output when obj is a Number:  
// Object is a Number.  

// Output when obj is a String:  
// Object is a String.  

// Output when obj is something other than a Date, Number, or String:  
// Object is unknown.  

Example

The following code shows what happens if you do not use a break statement.

function MyObjectType(obj) {  
    switch (obj.constructor) {  
        case Date:  
            document.write("Object is a Date.");  
        case Number:  
            document.write("Object is a Number.");  
        case String:  
            document.write("Object is a String.");  
        default:  
            document.write("Object is unknown.");  
    }  
}  

// Output when obj is a Date:  
// Object is a Date.Object is a Number.Object is a String.Object is unknown.  

// Output when obj is a Number:  
// Object is a Number.Object is a String.Object is unknown.  

// Output when obj is a String:  
// Object is a String.Object is unknown.  

// Output when obj is something other than a Date, Number, or String:  
// Object is unknown.  

Requirements

Supported in the following document modes: Quirks, Internet Explorer 6 standards, Internet Explorer 7 standards, Internet Explorer 8 standards, Internet Explorer 9 standards, Internet Explorer 10 standards, Internet Explorer 11 standards. Also supported in Store apps (Windows 8 and Windows Phone 8.1). See Version Information.

See Also

break Statement
if...else Statement