If-Else vs Switch Statement in C

The if-else and switch statements are used for decision-making in C programming, but they serve different purposes. This page compares these two control structures, helping you understand when to use one over the other.

1. If-Else Statement

The if-else statement evaluates a condition and executes the corresponding block of code depending on whether the condition is true or false. It's flexible and can evaluate complex conditions.

Syntax:

                        
if (condition) {
   // code to be executed if condition is true
} 
  else {
  // code to be executed if condition is false
        
}

Example:

                        
#include <stdio.h>
int main() 
{
    int num = 2;

    if (num == 1) {
        printf("Number is 1\n");
    } else {
        printf("Number is not 1\n");
    }

    return 0;
}

Output:

Number is not 1

2. Switch Statement

The switch statement evaluates a single expression and compares it with several possible values (called cases). It is useful when you have multiple conditions based on the same expression. Unlike if-else, it requires constant values for the case labels.

Syntax:

Syntax:

                        
switch(expression) 
{
    case value1:
        // code to be executed
        break;
    case value2:
        // code to be executed
        break;
    default:
       // code to be executed if no case matches
}

Example:

                        
#include <stdio.h> 
int main() 
{
    int num = 2;

    switch (num) {
        case 1:
            printf("Number is 1\n");
            break;
        case 2:
            printf("Number is 2\n");
            break;
        default:
            printf("Number is not 1 or 2\n");
            break;
    }

    return 0;
}

Output:

Number is 2

3. Key Differences

Feature If-Else Switch
Expression Type Can evaluate any condition Can only evaluate an integer or character
Complexity Suitable for simple or complex conditions Suitable for comparing a single expression to multiple values
Control Flow Can handle multiple conditions with logical operators Handles multiple cases for a single expression
Break Statement Not necessary Break is required to exit the switch

4. When to Use