freeCodeCamp/guide/english/php/switch/index.md

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Switch

Switch

In PHP, the Switch statement is very similar to the JavaScript Switch statement (See the JavaScript Switch Guide to compare and contrast). It allows rapid case testing with a lot of different possible conditions, the code is also more readable.

Syntax

<?php
	// Switch Statement Example
	switch ($i) {
    	case "free":
    	    echo "i is free";
    	    break;
    	case "code":
    	    echo "i is code";
    	    break;
    	case "camp":
    	    echo "i is camp";
    	    break;
    	default:
    	    echo "i is freecodecamp";
            break;
	}

Break

The break; statement exits the switch and goes on to run the rest of the application's code. If you do not use the break; statement you may end up running mulitple cases and statements, sometimes this may be desired in which case you should not include the break; statement.

An example of this behavior can be seen below:

<?php
    $j = 0;

    switch ($i) {
        case '2':
            $j++;
        case '1':
            $j++;
            break;
        default:
            break;
    }

If $i = 1, the value of $j would be:

1

If $i = 2, the value of $j would be:

2

While break can be omitted without causing fall-through in some instances (see below), it is generally best practice to include it for legibility and safety (see below):

<?php
    switch ($i) {
        case '1':
            return 1;
        case '2':
            return 2;
        default:
            break;
     }

<?php
    switch ($i) {
        case '1':
            return 1;
            break;
        case '2':
            return 2;
            break;
        default:
            break;
     }

Example

<?php
//initialize with a random integer within range
$diceNumber = mt_rand(1, 6);

//initialize
$numText = "";

//calling switch statement
  switch($diceNumber) 
  {
  case 1:
    $numText = "One";
    break;
  case 2:
    $numText = "Two";
    break;
  case 3:
  case 4:
    // case 3 and 4 will go to this line
    $numText = "Three or Four";
    break;
  case 5:
    $numText = "Five";
    echo $numText;
    // break; //without specify break or return it will continue execute to next case.
  case 6:
    $numText = "Six";
    echo $numText;
    break;
  default:
    $numText = "unknown";
  }
  
  //display result
  echo 'Dice show number '.$numText.'.';

?>

Output

if case is 1
> Dice show number One.

if case is 2
> Dice show number Two.

if case is 3
> Dice show number Three or Four.

if case is 4
> Dice show number Three or Four.

if case is 5
> FiveSixDice show number Six.

if case is 6
> SixDice show number Six.

if none of the above
> Dice show number unknown.

More Information:

• php.net docs Switch