Switch Statements in PHP

While the switch statement isn’t as popular as conditional operators like if and elseif in PHP, it can still be useful when evaluating a number of possible outcomes. Using a switch statement is pretty simple, so let’s look at an example:

<?php
$var = rand(0,2);
switch($var) {
    case 1:
        echo "The magic number is one.";
        break;
    default:
        echo "The magic number is unknown.";
}

This script will output either The magic number is unknown. or The magic number is one. depending on what random number is generated.

• The switch($var) line determines the variable to be evaluated.
• The case 1: block will be run if the variable being evaluated equals 1. Note that this uses loose comparisons, meaning that 1 or "1" will evaluate to true in this case.
• break; is a stopping point for each case’s block. This ensures that the next block (either another case or default block) will not run.
• Finally default: will be evaluated if none of the case statements was true.

A More Advanced Example

You can extend the logic from our first example to more complex statements and cases.

<?php
$var = rand(0,5);
switch($var) {
    case 1:
        echo "The magic number is one.";
        break;
    case 2:
        echo "The magic number is two.";
        break;
    case $var > 2:
        echo "The magic number is too big!";
    default:
        echo "The magic number is unknown.";
}

This time, we’re evaluating a random number between 0 and 5 inclusive. The first two case statements work the same as above, but the third one is a little different. It evaluates whether the number is greater than 2 and if so it says the number is too big!. You may also notice that there’s no break; statement, meaning that if case $var > 2 is reached it will continue on to the default: statement as well. So your output might look like any one of the following:

• If $var == 1: The magic number is one.
• If $var == 2: The magic number is two.
• If $var == 3,4,5: The magic number is too big! The magic number is unknown.
• If $var == 0: The magic number is unknown.

As you can see, switch statements can be used to perform logical operations that would be cumbersome using only embedded if statements. They also tend to be more readable when you have lots of potential scenarios.

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