I was wondering, whether I should have my switch statement switch on a char or an int or even a short? Has anybody got an idea which one is best? Stuart
Johannes de Jong
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Stuart Switch requires that the value can be converted to int. Considering that char and short will need to be converted I assume that int will be best. [This message has been edited by Johannes de Jong (edited July 23, 2001).]
Are you sure that switch converts the expression? I looked in the java language specification... and I couldn't find anything.
The type of the Expression must be char, byte, short, or int, or a compile-time error occurs.
But I suppose the expression is transformed into an integer in the byte code, or not? I'm still not convinced, jdj
Marilyn de Queiroz
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What are you gaining by using a short?
JavaBeginnersFaq "Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, and today is a gift; that's why they call it the present." Eleanor Roosevelt
jason adam
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Switch takes anything that is int-compatible. Since the others can fit within an int, they work. I agree with Marilyn, I've never used a short. The memory savings just aren't warranted to bother with the need for casting and such. Jason
So, unless I'm switching on chars like '+' or '-' there is no need to use char to switch on, I can just take an int. I'll do that next time, thanks a lot. Stuart
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