Switch vs if comparison in Java - Practice Questions

Challenge - 5 Problems

❓ Predict Output

intermediate

Output of switch with fall-through

What is the output of this Java code snippet?

Java

int x = 2;
switch (x) {
  case 1:
    System.out.print("One ");
  case 2:
    System.out.print("Two ");
  case 3:
    System.out.print("Three ");
    break;
  default:
    System.out.print("Default ");
}

A Two Three

B One Two Three

C Two

D Default

💡 Hint

Remember that switch cases fall through unless you use break.

Since x is 2, execution starts at case 2 and continues through case 3 until break. So it prints "Two Three ".

❓ Predict Output

intermediate

If-else equivalent output

What is the output of this if-else code equivalent to the previous switch?

Java

int x = 2;
if (x == 1) {
  System.out.print("One ");
} else if (x == 2) {
  System.out.print("Two ");
} else if (x == 3) {
  System.out.print("Three ");
} else {
  System.out.print("Default ");
}

A One Two Three

B Default

C Two Three

D Two

💡 Hint

If-else does not fall through cases.

The if-else checks conditions one by one and executes only the matching block, so only "Two " is printed.

🧠 Conceptual

advanced

Switch expression with yield

What is the value of variable result after this Java switch expression runs?

Java

int x = 3;
String result = switch (x) {
  case 1 -> "One";
  case 2 -> "Two";
  case 3 -> {
    yield "Three";
  }
  default -> "Default";
};
System.out.print(result);

A One

B Default

C Three

D Two

💡 Hint

Switch expressions use yield to return values from blocks.

For x=3, the case 3 block yields "Three", so result is "Three".

❓ Predict Output

advanced

Switch with multiple labels output

What does this code print?

Java

int day = 5;
switch (day) {
  case 1, 2, 3 -> System.out.print("Start");
  case 4, 5, 6 -> System.out.print("Middle");
  case 7 -> System.out.print("End");
  default -> System.out.print("Unknown");
}

A Middle

B Start

C End

D Unknown

💡 Hint

Multiple labels can be combined with commas in switch cases.

Day 5 matches case 4,5,6 so it prints "Middle".

❓ Predict Output

expert

Switch vs if with null value

What happens when this code runs?

Java

String s = null;
switch (s) {
  case "a" -> System.out.print("A");
  case "b" -> System.out.print("B");
  default -> System.out.print("Default");
}

if (s == null) {
  System.out.print("Null");
} else if (s.equals("a")) {
  System.out.print("A");
} else {
  System.out.print("Other");
}

A DefaultNull

B Throws NullPointerException

C NullA

D NullDefault

💡 Hint

Switch on null reference causes an exception.

Switch on a null String throws NullPointerException, but the if-else handles null safely.