switch vs if else

In this tutorial, You will learn about the difference between if else vs switch statement in C. From this you roughly idea about the if else vs switch performance and efficiency. 

To learn more about switch case statements and if else statement.

switch vs if else

The if-else statement and switch statements are used in programming for the selection of code blocks. They both let you select the block of code from many blocks of statement by an output of test expression. They both the switch and if else are the decision making statements in C programming. 

Difference between if else vs switch

Definition

• if-else It is about dividing the program in the order of execution of certain statements based on some conditions. These are used when we have to set some limitations on statements based on conditions.

• switch  When we want to solve multiple option problem and we have only one expression to evaluate different cases from it. The result decides which condition is invoked from the case of expression.

Expression

• if-else if statement has evaluated the logical condition or relational conditions.

• switch switch statement has only one test expression.

Execution

• if-else When the condition is true then if statement executes either else part executes. 

• switch When the expression match found with the case statement it executes that sequence of statements until the break statement or reaches to switch statement ends.

Evaluation

• if-else if else statement can handle integers, floating-point, and also character tests.

• switch switch statement cannot handle floating-point but it must handle integers and characters.

Testing

• if-else if statement has multiple the logical or relational conditions for execution of blocks of code statements.

• switch switch statement has only one test expression for N number of case statements.

Versatile

• if-else if-else statement is more versatile because it handles ranges. 

• switch switch statement cannot because it handles only single.

I think a tabular form is more familiar to learn instead of paragraphs. So, Below I shared summarize of all the above in tabular form.

	if...else	switch...case
Definition	When the test condition is true then if execute and if not then else part.	The test expression decides which case statement is invoked.
Expression	It evaluates logical or relational conditions.	It has only one test expression.
Execution	Either if will execute or else executes.	It executes only one case until the break statement or reaches to switch statement ends.
Evaluation	It can handle integers, floating-point, and also character tests.	switch cannot handle floating-point but it must handle integers and characters.
Versatile	if-else statement is more versatile.	switch statement cannot.
Testing	It tests for logical as well as relational.	It tests for only one expression.

In this tutorial, You learn difference b/w switch vs if...else and learn the difference learn about performance and efficiency of switch vs if else. Comment which one you use from both?

Happy Coding 😊