Java With Us

The <code>switch</code> Statement and Expression in Java

Updated on 2026-04-21 Reviewed by the Java With Us editorial team

Java has two forms of switch now: the classic statement (pre-Java 14, with case : and break) and the modern expression (Java 14+, with case -> and no fall-through). The expression form returns a value and is almost always the better choice.

Modern switch expression (Java 14+)

String label = switch (day) {
    case MONDAY, TUESDAY, WEDNESDAY, THURSDAY, FRIDAY -> "Weekday";
    case SATURDAY, SUNDAY                              -> "Weekend";
};
  • No break — no fall-through.
  • Multiple values per case with commas.
  • Returns a value — enforced to be exhaustive when used as an expression.

Block cases — use yield

int score = switch (grade) {
    case 'A' -> 90;
    case 'B' -> 80;
    default  -> {
        log.warn("unknown grade " + grade);
        yield 0;                      // return value for this branch
    }
};

Classic switch statement

switch (day) {
    case MONDAY:
    case TUESDAY:
        label = "Weekday"; break;
    case SATURDAY:
        label = "Weekend"; break;
    default:
        label = "?";
}

Fall-through is the default — forgetting break silently runs the next case. The arrow form eliminates this whole class of bug.

Pattern matching for switch (Java 21+)

String describe(Object o) {
    return switch (o) {
        case Integer i when i > 0 -> "positive";
        case Integer i            -> "non-positive int";
        case String s             -> "string " + s.length();
        case null                 -> "null";
        default                   -> "other";
    };
}

Supported types

byte, short, char, int (and wrappers), String, enum, and (since Java 21) any reference type with pattern matching.

Common mistakes

  • Forgetting break in the classic form — use arrow syntax.
  • Non-exhaustive expression switch — won't compile without default or covering every case (sealed types help here).
  • Matching on null — classic switch throws NPE on a null selector. Arrow-form + case null handles it explicitly.

Related

Pillar: Java control flow. See also if/else, sealed classes.

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