The C# programming language has evolved over time with numerous updates and innovations. With the release of C# 8.0, a significant enhancement was introduced to the switch statement to make it more flexible and readable. In this article, we’ll delve into the new switch usage in C# 8.0 and later versions.

1. Switch with Pattern Matching

With C# 8.0, the switch statement was enhanced with pattern matching, allowing for more complex scenarios. Unlike previous versions where the switch statement typically dealt with constant values, pattern matching enables handling more intricate situations.

public string GetDayOfWeek(DayOfWeek day)
{
    return day switch
    {
        DayOfWeek.Monday => "Monday",
        DayOfWeek.Tuesday => "Tuesday",
        DayOfWeek.Wednesday => "Wednesday",
        DayOfWeek.Thursday => "Thursday",
        DayOfWeek.Friday => "Friday",
        DayOfWeek.Saturday => "Saturday",
        DayOfWeek.Sunday => "Sunday",
        _ => throw new ArgumentException("Invalid day"),
    };
}

In the above example, the switch statement employs pattern matching to cover each day. Additionally, the _ (underscore) is used to handle the case where no pattern matches.

2. Simplification of Switch Statements

C# 8.0 introduced a more concise syntax for switch statements. In previous versions, a break statement was required at the end of each case block. However, with the new switch statement, you can directly proceed without using the break statement.

public string GetSeason(int month)
{
    return month switch
    {
        12 or 1 or 2 => "Winter",
        3 or 4 or 5 => "Spring",
        6 or 7 or 8 => "Summer",
        9 or 10 or 11 => "Autumn",
        _ => throw new ArgumentException("Invalid month"),
    };
}

In the above example, the or operator is used to combine multiple values in a single case block. Additionally, _ is used to handle the case where no match is found.

3. Switching with Null Values

Starting from C# 8.0, the switch statement can also be used with null values, which is particularly useful when working with object types.

public string GetStringLength(string text)
{
    return text switch
    {
        null => "Empty",
        string s when s.Length < 5 => "Short",
        string s when s.Length < 10 => "Medium",
        _ => "Long",
    };
}

In the above example, the switch statement checks for a null value and the length of the text to return a value based on the condition.

4. Advantages of New Features in Switch Statements

The new switch statement makes code more readable and concise. The pattern matching feature allows for more effective handling of complex scenarios, reducing code redundancy. Additionally, simplified switch statements enable accomplishing more with less code.

5. Conclusion

The new switch usage introduced in C# 8.0 and later versions represents a significant update that makes the language more powerful and flexible. Pattern matching strengthens the switch statement, enhancing code readability. The simplified syntax promotes cleaner and more concise code. Therefore, it is crucial for C# developers to learn and leverage these new features for efficient and modern coding practices.

I hope you find this article helpful. Happy coding!