Comparing switch-like operators in 14 different programming languages

#programminglanguages

We are going to look at Javascript, Typescript, Java, C#, Swift, Objective-C, Python, PHP, Ruby, Kotlin, ReasonML, Dart, Go and Elixir.

At Avo (avo.app) we work with 12 languages, and I decided to do a series of quick comparisons of those languages, plus 3 languages we are going to support soon.

First feature we are going to look at is the switch-like constructs. We are interested in 3 features related to switches - ability to use switch as an expression (so it returns a value), whether the switch construct is exhaustive (you need to handle all cases to compile the code) and if the fall-through logic disabled (so you don't need to break out of each case explicitly).

Language	has switch expression	is exhaustive	no need to break	reference
javascript	limited, only if wrapped in a function https://stackoverflow.com/a/55944296	-	-	https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Web/JavaScript/Reference/Statements/switch
typescript	limited, only if wrapped in a function	limited http://ideasintosoftware.com/exhaustive-switch-in-typescript/	-	same as JS
java	starting java 12	expression is, statement is not	additional syntax starting java 12	https://openjdk.java.net/jeps/354
c#	starting C# 8.0	- (expression will give a compile warning)	need to break in the statement	https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/dotnet/csharp/language-reference/operators/switch-expression
swift	-	+	+	https://docs.swift.org/swift-book/LanguageGuide/ControlFlow.html
objc	-	+	-	🤷‍♂️
python	no switch in python :)
php	called match, introduced in php 8	match is, switch is not	match , switch is not	https://www.php.net/manual/en/control-structures.match.php
ruby, called `case`	+	-	+	https://ruby-doc.org/core-3.0.1/doc/syntax/control_expressions_rdoc.html#label-case+Expression
kotlin, called when	+	expression is, statement is not	+	https://kotlinlang.org/docs/control-flow.html#when-expression
reasonml/rescript	+	+	+	https://rescript-lang.org/docs/manual/latest/pattern-matching-destructuring#switch-based-on-shape-of-data
dart	-	+	-	https://dart.dev/guides/language/language-tour#switch-and-case
go	-	-	+	https://tour.golang.org/flowcontrol/9
elixir (called case)	-	- (runtime error CaseClauseError)	+	https://elixir-lang.org/getting-started/case-cond-and-if.html#case

DEV Community

Comparing switch-like operators in 14 different programming languages

Top comments (0)

Read next

Isolatiebedrijf Groningen #1 in Isoleren

Smth about Unittests

Rebuilding Trust After a Scam: My Recovery Story with Hack Savvy Tech

Version React for MacOS 12.6.7