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# `switch`

The `switch` statement is similar to a series of IF statements on the same expression. In many occasions, you may want to compare the same variable (or expression) with many different values, and execute a different piece of code depending on which value it equals to. This is exactly what the `switch` statement is for.

> Note: Note that unlike some other languages, the continue statement applies to switch and acts similar to `break`. If you have a switch inside a loop and wish to continue to the next iteration of the outer loop, use `continue 2`.

The following two examples are two different ways to write the same thing, one using a series of `if` and `elseif` statements, and the other using the `switch` statement:

Example 16-1. `switch` structure

`<?php if ($i == 0) { echo "i equals 0"; } elseif ($i == 1) { echo "i equals 1"; } elseif ($i == 2) { echo "i equals 2"; } switch ($i) { case 0: echo "i equals 0"; break; case 1: echo "i equals 1"; break; case 2: echo "i equals 2"; break; } ?>`

Example 16-2. `switch` structure allows usage of strings

`<?php switch ($i) { case "apple": echo "i is apple"; break; case "bar": echo "i is bar"; break; case "cake": echo "i is cake"; break; } ?>`

It is important to understand how the `switch` statement is executed in order to avoid mistakes. The `switch` statement executes line by line (actually, statement by statement). In the beginning, no code is executed. Only when a `case` statement is found with a value that matches the value of the `switch` expression does PHP begin to execute the statements. PHP continues to execute the statements until the end of the `switch` block, or the first time it sees a `break` statement. If you don't write a `break` statement at the end of a case's statement list, PHP will go on executing the statements of the following case. For example:

`<?php switch ($i) { case 0: echo "i equals 0"; case 1: echo "i equals 1"; case 2: echo "i equals 2"; } ?>`

Here, if `$i` is equal to 0, PHP would execute all of the echo statements! If `$i` is equal to 1, PHP would execute the last two echo statements. You would get the expected behavior ('i equals 2' would be displayed) only if `$i` is equal to 2. Thus, it is important not to forget `break` statements (even though you may want to avoid supplying them on purpose under certain circumstances).

In a `switch` statement, the condition is evaluated only once and the result is compared to each `case` statement. In an `elseif` statement, the condition is evaluated again. If your condition is more complicated than a simple compare and/or is in a tight loop, a `switch` may be faster.

The statement list for a case can also be empty, which simply passes control into the statement list for the next case.

`<?php switch ($i) { case 0: case 1: case 2: echo "i is less than 3 but not negative"; break; case 3: echo "i is 3"; } ?>`

A special case is the `default` case. This case matches anything that wasn't matched by the other cases, and should be the last `case` statement. For example:

`<?php switch ($i) { case 0: echo "i equals 0"; break; case 1: echo "i equals 1"; break; case 2: echo "i equals 2"; break; default: echo "i is not equal to 0, 1 or 2"; } ?>`

The `case` expression may be any expression that evaluates to a simple type, that is, integer or floating-point numbers and strings. Arrays or objects cannot be used here unless they are dereferenced to a simple type.

The alternative syntax for control structures is supported with switches. For more information, see Alternative syntax for control structures .

`<?php switch ($i): case 0: echo "i equals 0"; break; case 1: echo "i equals 1"; break; case 2: echo "i equals 2"; break; default: echo "i is not equal to 0, 1 or 2"; endswitch; ?>`

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