---
id: 56533eb9ac21ba0edf2244de
title: Adding a Default Option in Switch Statements
challengeType: 1
guideUrl: 'https://www.freecodecamp.org/guide/certificates/adding-a-default-option-in-switch-statements'
---
## Description
In a switch statement you may not be able to specify all possible values as case statements. Instead, you can add the default statement which will be executed if no matching case statements are found. Think of it like the final else statement in an if/else chain.
A default statement should be the last case.
switch (num) {
case value1:
statement1;
break;
case value2:
statement2;
break;
...
default:
defaultStatement;
break;
}
## Instructions
Write a switch statement to set answer for the following conditions:
"a" - "apple"
"b" - "bird"
"c" - "cat"
default - "stuff"
## Tests
```yml
tests:
- text: switchOfStuff("a") should have a value of "apple"
testString: 'assert(switchOfStuff("a") === "apple", "switchOfStuff("a") should have a value of "apple"");'
- text: switchOfStuff("b") should have a value of "bird"
testString: 'assert(switchOfStuff("b") === "bird", "switchOfStuff("b") should have a value of "bird"");'
- text: switchOfStuff("c") should have a value of "cat"
testString: 'assert(switchOfStuff("c") === "cat", "switchOfStuff("c") should have a value of "cat"");'
- text: switchOfStuff("d") should have a value of "stuff"
testString: 'assert(switchOfStuff("d") === "stuff", "switchOfStuff("d") should have a value of "stuff"");'
- text: switchOfStuff(4) should have a value of "stuff"
testString: 'assert(switchOfStuff(4) === "stuff", "switchOfStuff(4) should have a value of "stuff"");'
- text: You should not use any if or else statements
testString: 'assert(!/else/g.test(code) || !/if/g.test(code), "You should not use any if or else statements");'
- text: You should use a default statement
testString: 'assert(switchOfStuff("string-to-trigger-default-case") === "stuff", "You should use a default statement");'
- text: You should have at least 3 break statements
testString: 'assert(code.match(/break/g).length > 2, "You should have at least 3 break statements");'
```
## Challenge Seed
```js
function switchOfStuff(val) {
var answer = "";
// Only change code below this line
// Only change code above this line
return answer;
}
// Change this value to test
switchOfStuff(1);
```
## Solution
```js
function switchOfStuff(val) {
var answer = "";
switch(val) {
case "a":
answer = "apple";
break;
case "b":
answer = "bird";
break;
case "c":
answer = "cat";
break;
default:
answer = "stuff";
}
return answer;
}
```