Match expression (PHP 8) - Practice Problems & Coding Challenges

Challenge - 5 Problems

❓ Predict Output

intermediate

Output of a simple match expression

What is the output of the following PHP code using a match expression?

PHP

<?php
$input = 2;
$result = match($input) {
    1 => 'One',
    2 => 'Two',
    3 => 'Three',
    default => 'Other'
};
echo $result;

A Two

B One

C Three

D Other

💡 Hint

Look at the value of $input and which case it matches.

The match expression compares $input to each case. Since $input is 2, it matches the case 2 and returns 'Two'.

❓ Predict Output

intermediate

Match expression with multiple conditions

What will this PHP code output when using a match expression with multiple conditions in one arm?

PHP

<?php
$input = 'b';
$result = match($input) {
    'a', 'b', 'c' => 'Letter in a-c',
    'x', 'y', 'z' => 'Letter in x-z',
    default => 'Other letter'
};
echo $result;

A Letter in x-z

B Other letter

C Letter in a-c

D Syntax error

💡 Hint

Check which group the input letter belongs to.

The input 'b' matches the first arm with multiple conditions 'a', 'b', 'c', so it returns 'Letter in a-c'.

❓ Predict Output

advanced

Match expression with strict type comparison

What is the output of this PHP code using match expression with strict type comparison?

PHP

<?php
$input = '1';
$result = match($input) {
    1 => 'Integer one',
    '1' => 'String one',
    default => 'Other'
};
echo $result;

A Integer one

B TypeError

C Other

D String one

💡 Hint

Match uses strict comparison (===), so type matters.

The input is a string '1', so it matches the case '1' (string) and returns 'String one'. The integer 1 case does not match because types differ.

❓ Predict Output

advanced

Match expression without default arm

What happens when this PHP code runs a match expression without a default arm and no case matches?

PHP

<?php
$input = 5;
$result = match($input) {
    1 => 'One',
    2 => 'Two',
    3 => 'Three'
};
echo $result;

A One

B UnhandledMatchError

C Three

D Two

💡 Hint

What if no case matches and no default is given?

If no case matches and there is no default arm, PHP throws an UnhandledMatchError exception.

🧠 Conceptual

expert

Behavior of match expression with expressions as arms

Consider this PHP code using match expression with expressions as arms. What is the output?

PHP

<?php
$input = 3;
$result = match($input) {
    1 => 1 + 1,
    2 => 2 * 2,
    3 => strlen('abc'),
    default => 0
};
echo $result;

A 3

B 2

C 4

D 0

💡 Hint

Evaluate the expression for the matching case.

The input is 3, so the matching arm is 3 => strlen('abc'). strlen('abc') returns 3, so the output is 3.