How does a switch statement work in C?
a) It allows multi-way branching based on the value of an expression
b) It iterates over a block of code a specified number of times
c) It checks a condition at the end of the loop
d) It only iterates once
Answer:
a) It allows multi-way branching based on the value of an expression
Explanation:
A switch statement in C is used for multi-way branching, allowing a variable or expression to be compared against several constant values. Depending on the value of the expression, the program can branch to different parts of the code, making the switch statement an efficient alternative to multiple if-else statements. Each case within the switch represents a potential path, and the break statement is typically used to exit the switch block after a case is executed. The default case provides a catch-all for values not explicitly handled by the other cases.
Understanding the switch statement is crucial for writing clean and efficient code when handling multiple conditions based on the value of a single expression.