> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://eleven-fifty-academy.gitbook.io/dotnet-100-prework-gitbook/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://eleven-fifty-academy.gitbook.io/dotnet-100-prework-gitbook/part-3-c-fundamentals/7.0-conditionals/7.1-switch-case.md).

# 7.1: Switch Case

In this module we'll study switch statements.

## File Location

1. Right click on the solution you made in the first module.
2. Go to **Add > New Project** and select **Console App (.NET Framework)**.
3. Name it `07_conditionals_switch`.
4. Write your code for this module within `Program.cs` of that project.

## Description

According to the MSN docs, "a switch statement is a type of conditional that chooses a single switch section to execute from a list of candidates based on a pattern match with the match expression."

It's a bit easier to study switch statements by writing them, so lets do that now.

## Switch Case

Below is an example of a switch case that you can add to the `Program.cs` file:

```csharp
class Program
{
    static void Main(string[] args)
    {
        //1
        Console.WriteLine("What's your name?");
        string inputName = Console.ReadLine().ToLower();

        //2
        switch (inputName)
        {
            //3
            case "fred":
                Console.WriteLine("Hey Fred, let's go golfing.");
                //4
                break;
            case "karl":
                Console.WriteLine("Let's hang.");
                break;
            case "john":
                Console.WriteLine("Sorry, I'm busy right now.");
                break;
            default:
                Console.WriteLine("Hey " + inputName + ", can I call you back in a minute?");
                break;
        }

        //5
    }
}
```

## Analysis

1. In the example above, we ask the user their name and then store that name in `inputName` variable.  To standardize the input, we use `.ToLower()` to convert the user's input to lowercase. 
2. Next, we declare a `switch` that takes in the `inputName` variable. 
3. We write out the various cases. The program looks for fred, then karl, then john, and then has a case for none, if none of these cases are the value. If the value of `inputName` is 'Fred' or 'fred', the switch will execute the Console statement to go golfing.
4. The statement will break out of the switch statemetn and the program will move on to #5.

## More Practice

Without looking, try making a switch case that outputs descriptions of your different friends.

It could look like this:

```csharp
class Program
{
    static void Main(string[] args)
    {
        Console.WriteLine("What's your friend's name?");
        string friend = Console.ReadLine().ToLower();

        switch (friend)
        {       
            case "jay":
                Console.WriteLine("Jay is a great guy.");
                break;
            case "paul":
                Console.WriteLine("Paul is pretty cool.");
                break;
            case "kenn":
                Console.WriteLine("Kenn has an old soul.");
                break;
            case "carr":
                Console.WriteLine("Carr is the coolest dude ever");
                break;
            default:
                Console.WriteLine($"I don't know {friend}.");
                break;
        }
    }
}
```