---
id: 56533eb9ac21ba0edf2244e0
title: Replacing If Else Chains with Switch
challengeType: 1
---
## Description
If you have many options to choose from, a switch statement can be easier to write than many chained if/else if statements. The following:
if (val === 1) {
answer = "a";
} else if (val === 2) {
answer = "b";
} else {
answer = "c";
}
can be replaced with:
switch(val) {
case 1:
answer = "a";
break;
case 2:
answer = "b";
break;
default:
answer = "c";
}
## Instructions
Change the chained if/else if statements into a switch statement.
## Tests
```yml
- text: You should not use any else statements anywhere in the editor
testString: 'assert(!/else/g.test(code), ''You should not use any else statements anywhere in the editor'');'
- text: You should not use any if statements anywhere in the editor
testString: 'assert(!/if/g.test(code), ''You should not use any if statements anywhere in the editor'');'
- text: You should have at least four break statements
testString: 'assert(code.match(/break/g).length >= 4, ''You should have at least four break statements'');'
- text: chainToSwitch("bob") should be "Marley"
testString: 'assert(chainToSwitch("bob") === "Marley", ''chainToSwitch("bob") should be "Marley"'');'
- text: chainToSwitch(42) should be "The Answer"
testString: 'assert(chainToSwitch(42) === "The Answer", ''chainToSwitch(42) should be "The Answer"'');'
- text: 'chainToSwitch(1) should be "There is no #1"'
testString: 'assert(chainToSwitch(1) === "There is no #1", ''chainToSwitch(1) should be "There is no #1"'');'
- text: chainToSwitch(99) should be "Missed me by this much!"
testString: 'assert(chainToSwitch(99) === "Missed me by this much!", ''chainToSwitch(99) should be "Missed me by this much!"'');'
- text: chainToSwitch(7) should be "Ate Nine"
testString: 'assert(chainToSwitch(7) === "Ate Nine", ''chainToSwitch(7) should be "Ate Nine"'');'
- text: chainToSwitch("John") should be "" (empty string)
testString: 'assert(chainToSwitch("John") === "", ''chainToSwitch("John") should be "" (empty string)'');'
- text: chainToSwitch(156) should be "" (empty string)
testString: 'assert(chainToSwitch(156) === "", ''chainToSwitch(156) should be "" (empty string)'');'
```
## Challenge Seed
```js
function chainToSwitch(val) {
var answer = "";
// Only change code below this line
if (val === "bob") {
answer = "Marley";
} else if (val === 42) {
answer = "The Answer";
} else if (val === 1) {
answer = "There is no #1";
} else if (val === 99) {
answer = "Missed me by this much!";
} else if (val === 7) {
answer = "Ate Nine";
}
// Only change code above this line
return answer;
}
// Change this value to test
chainToSwitch(7);
```
## Solution
```js
function chainToSwitch(val) {
var answer = "";
switch(val) {
case "bob":
answer = "Marley";
break;
case 42:
answer = "The Answer";
break;
case 1:
answer = "There is no #1";
break;
case 99:
answer = "Missed me by this much!";
break;
case 7:
answer = "Ate Nine";
}
return answer;
}
```