What are the differences between switch-case and if-else in C#?

What are the differences between switch-case and if-else in C#?

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

Can you give me an example of each?

Sure! For switch-case:

switch (day) {
    case "Monday":
        Console.WriteLine("Start of the week");
        break;
    case "Friday":
        Console.WriteLine("End of the work week");
        break;
    default:
        Console.WriteLine("Midweek");
}

For if-else:

if (day == "Monday") {
    Console.WriteLine("Start of the week");
} else if (day == "Friday") {
    Console.WriteLine("End of the work week");
} else {
    Console.WriteLine("Midweek");
}

When should I use switch-case instead of if-else?

Use switch-case when you have multiple specific values to compare against a single variable. It's cleaner and easier to read. If your conditions are more complex or involve ranges, if-else is the better choice.

Are there any performance differences between the two?

Yes, in some cases, switch-case can be more efficient than if-else, especially with many cases, as it can be optimized by the compiler. However, the difference is often negligible for a small number of conditions.