C# Switch vs If: Which Should I Use?

What's the difference between switch and if statements in C#?

In C#, both switch and if statements are used for conditional branching, but they have different use cases. Switch is generally used for multiple discrete values, while if is more flexible for complex conditions.

Can you give me an example of when to use switch?

Sure! Use switch when you have a variable that can take on multiple specific values, like days of the week. For example:

switch(dayOfWeek) {
    case "Monday":
        Console.WriteLine("Start of the week!");
        break;
    case "Friday":
        Console.WriteLine("Almost the weekend!");
        break;
    default:
        Console.WriteLine("Just another day.");
}

What about using if statements?

If statements are better for conditions that involve ranges or complex logic. For example:

if (age < 18) {
    Console.WriteLine("You are a minor.");
} else if (age >= 18 && age < 65) {
    Console.WriteLine("You are an adult.");
} else {
    Console.WriteLine("You are a senior.");
}

Are there performance differences between the two?

Yes, switch statements can be more efficient than if statements when dealing with many cases, as they can be optimized by the compiler. However, for a small number of conditions, the difference is usually negligible.