Java - Can you use String for switch?

Question

I am using switch{case ()} with String in java, and so far it seems to be working perfectly. But I want to confirm before continuing too much; is this safe?

I mean, I know that I should not be doing if ("hi" == "hi"), but should be doing "hi".equals ("hi") because String refers to a reference point...

I am not too sure how switch works, and I have not been able to confirm from any of my sources...

Thank you!!

@Orange: Um, the version of the Java language you're using... — Jon Skeet, Oct 10 '16 at 06:52
So if I have java later than version 7, my method should be safe right? — Orange, Oct 10 '16 at 06:53
Indeed, and note that Java is clever enough to compare the string *contents*, not the *references*. — Bathsheba, Oct 10 '16 at 06:54
Hint: please understand that this is a really really basic question. For such things, try to do **prior research** before dropping a question here. SO is **not** about asking and answering the same questions over and and over and over again. — GhostCat, Oct 10 '16 at 07:00
The linked duplicate IMHO does not give a satisfying answer to this question as all answers to that question use pre-Java 7 language features and no explanations for "string in switch" are given. — Axel, Oct 10 '16 at 07:08

score 0 · Answer 1 · answered Oct 10 '16 at 06:56

According to the language specification (emphasis mine):

If one of the case constants is equal to the value of the expression, then we say that the case matches, and all statements after the matching case label in the switch block, if any, are executed in sequence.

This implies that the switch case is evaluated using equals, not ==.

Java - Can you use String for switch?

1 Answers1