Switch Statement

[Sridhar Padala]

When I try to compile the below program
class Switch1 {

public static void main(String args[])
{
final int a = 1;
final int b;
b= 2;
int x = 1;

switch (x) {
case a:
case b:
}}}

Error:
Switch1.java:13: constant expression required
case b: //
^
1 error

I want to know what is the difference between declarations mentioned below

final int a = 1;

and

final int b;
b= 2;

Thanks in Advance :-)

[Raghavan Muthu]

Hello Sridhar Padala ,

Welcome to Javaranch.

Actually the switch statement expects its all 'case' expressions to be final and should get resolved at compile time. Thats the reason you get a compiler error.

[Joanne Neal]

See Jim Yingst's post in this thread for further information.
[ August 14, 2007: Message edited by: Joanne Neal ]

[Raghavan Muthu]

Yes, that link has the perfect and exact answer what you might look at.

Thanks for pointing to the link Joanne Neal.

[Sridhar Padala]

Thank You Very much Muthu......