How do switch statements work and what are pattern matching features?

In Swift, switch statements provide a powerful tool for control flow, enabling developers to branch the code execution based on the value of a variable or constant. Unlike traditional switch statements found in other programming languages, Swift switch statements can match various types of patterns, making them more expressive and flexible.

One key feature of pattern matching in Swift is the ability to use ranges, tuples, and even types. This allows developers to create concise and readable code that is easier to maintain. When a match is found, the corresponding block of code is executed. This can include additional features like fallthrough, where execution continues into the next case, and complex patterns, such as matching enum cases.

Example of a Swift Switch Statement

let number = 3 switch number { case 1: print("One") case 2: print("Two") case 3: print("Three") case 4...10: print("Four to Ten") default: print("Not in range") }

Swift switch statement pattern matching control flow ranges tuples enums