Java 12 extends the switch statement so that it can be used either as a statement or as an expression (JEP 325).

This change is a preview language feature.

The new switch syntax can only be compiled (via javac) and run (via java) with --enable-preview flag.

Let's understand new switch syntax with examples.

Examples

New switch syntax as statement

A new form of switch label, written as "case L ->" has been introduced. If a label is matched, then only the statement (or expression) to the right of an arrow label is executed. Also there is no fall though.

package com.logicbig.example;

import java.time.LocalDate;
import java.time.Month;

public class SwitchStatementNewEx {
  public static void main(String[] args) {
      showQuarter(LocalDate.now().getMonth());
  }

  public static void showQuarter(Month month) {
      switch (month) {
          case JANUARY, FEBRUARY, MARCH -> System.out.println("First Quarter");//no break needed
          case APRIL, MAY, JUNE -> System.out.println("Second Quarter");
          case JULY, AUGUST, SEPTEMBER -> System.out.println("Third Quarter");
          case OCTOBER, NOVEMBER, DECEMBER -> System.out.println("Forth Quarter");
          default -> System.out.println("Unknown Quarter");
      }
  }
}

First Quarter

If we write above example in old traditional way:

package com.logicbig.example;

import java.time.LocalDate;
import java.time.Month;

public class SwitchStatementOldEx {
  public static void main(String[] args) {
      showQuarter(LocalDate.now().getMonth());
  }

  public static void showQuarter(Month month) {
      switch (month) {
          case JANUARY:
          case FEBRUARY:
          case MARCH:
              System.out.println("First Quarter");
              break;
          case APRIL:
          case MAY:
          case JUNE:
              System.out.println("Second Quarter");
              break;
          case JULY:
          case AUGUST:
          case SEPTEMBER:
              System.out.println("Third Quarter");
              break;
          case OCTOBER:
          case NOVEMBER:
          case DECEMBER:
              System.out.println("Forth Quarter");
          default:
              System.out.println("Unknown Quarter");
      }
  }
}

First Quarter

New switch syntax as expression

The switch block used as an expression can directly return a value or it can be assigned to a variable:

package com.logicbig.example;

import java.time.LocalDate;
import java.time.Month;

public class SwitchExpressionExample {
  public static void main(String[] args) {
      showQuarter(LocalDate.now().getMonth());
  }

  public static void showQuarter(Month month) {
      String quarter = switch (month) {
          case JANUARY, FEBRUARY, MARCH -> "First Quarter"; //must be a single returning value
          case APRIL, MAY, JUNE -> "Second Quarter";
          case JULY, AUGUST, SEPTEMBER -> "Third Quarter";
          case OCTOBER, NOVEMBER, DECEMBER -> "Forth Quarter";
          default -> "Unknown Quarter";
      };
      System.out.println(quarter);
  }
}

First Quarter

If we write above example in old traditional way:

package com.logicbig.example;

import java.time.LocalDate;
import java.time.Month;

public class SwitchExpressionOldExample {
  public static void main(String[] args) {
      showQuarter(LocalDate.now().getMonth());
  }

  public static void showQuarter(Month month) {
      String quarter;
      switch (month) {
          case JANUARY:
          case FEBRUARY:
          case MARCH:
              quarter = "First Quarter";
              break;
          case APRIL:
          case MAY:
          case JUNE:
              quarter = "Second Quarter";
              break;
          case JULY:
          case AUGUST:
          case SEPTEMBER:
              quarter = "Third Quarter";
              break;
          case OCTOBER:
          case NOVEMBER:
          case DECEMBER:
              quarter = "Forth Quarter";
              break;
          default:
              quarter = "Unknown Quarter";
      }
      System.out.println(quarter);
  }
}

First Quarter

New switch expression with break

The new switch expressions with arrow syntax can only be used with a single value expression to the right of "case L ->" (last example). In cases where full block is needed, a new syntax with break statement is introduced. A switch expression can now use a "traditional" switch block with colons ("case L:"). In this case values are returned using the 'break' along with an argument:

package com.logicbig.example;

import java.time.LocalDate;
import java.time.Month;

public class SwitchExpressionWithBreak {
  public static void main(String[] args) {
      showQuarter(LocalDate.now().getMonth());
  }

  public static void showQuarter(Month month) {

      String result = switch (month) {
          case JANUARY:
          case FEBRUARY:
          case MARCH:
              //multiple statements can be used here
              break "First Quarter";
          case APRIL:
          case MAY:
          case JUNE:
              break "Second Quarter";
          case JULY:
          case AUGUST:
          case SEPTEMBER:
              break "Third Quarter";
          case OCTOBER:
          case NOVEMBER:
          case DECEMBER:
              break "Forth Quarter";
          default:
              break "Unknown Quarter";
      };
      System.out.println(result);
  }
}

First Quarter

IDE support

IntelliJ IDEA 2019.1 (early access - next version) supports Java 12 switch statements.

Example Project

Dependencies and Technologies Used:

• JDK 12