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case (often referred to as switch in other languages) is a form of control expression like if-else. case allows for chaining multiple if-else-if statements, can be more readable, and allows for powerful constructs.

A case is defined by the keyword case followed by an optional expression. Then for each case, the keyword when is used followed by an expression that is compared to the case expression. The when keyword should not be indented from the case keyword. After the when keyword is the code that should be executed if the case expression matches the when expression. Case allows for an optional else statement which is executed if no other case matches.

The case expression is evaluated and then compared to each when expression. The expression is compared using the case subsumption operator (===).

case 1
when 1
  puts "One"
when 2
  puts "Two"
else
  puts "Other"
end
# => One

# This is the same as:
tmp = 1
if 1 === tmp
  puts "One"
elsif 2 === tmp
  puts "Two"
else
  puts "Other"
end

Case subsumption operator (===)

The case subsumption operator (===) is a bit different from the equality operator (==). The operator checks if the right side is a member of the set described by the left side. This means that it does matter where each operand is placed. How this works depends on the type of the left side, for example a Range would check if the right side is in the range or a Object would check if the right side is an instance of the Object.

(1..3) == 1  # => false
(1..3) === 1 # => true

String == "foo"  # => false
String === "foo" # => true

Case with multiple expressions

Cases allow matching multiple expressions in a single case with each possible value separated by a comma. It will execute the code if any of the expressions match. This can be useful for a single case with multiple possible values.

case 1
when 1, 2
  puts "One or two"
else
  puts "Other"
end

Cases with ranges

Cases can also check if a value is in a range. This is done by having a range as the when expression.

case var
when 1..3
  puts "One to three"
else
  puts "Other"
end

Cases with no case expression

When there is no need for a case expression, it is possible to omit it. Doing this will make it so that each case expression is evaluated for truthiness. And makes them behave like if-else-if statements.

case
when 1 == 1
  puts "One is equal to one"
when 1 > 2
  puts "One is greater than two"
else
  puts "Other"
end

Single line when

Crystal allows for single-line case statements. This can be used when you have a simple single-line statement. The single line when the statement is written as when <expression> then <statement>. And when used in the else statement, it is written as else <statement>.

case var
when 1 then puts "One"
when 2 then puts "Two"
else puts "Other"
end

Case with types

Case allows for the matching with types. The comparison will use the is_a? operator to check the variable type. For example, this allows one branch for each type in a union type.

case var
when Int32
  puts "Int32"
when String
  puts "String"
else
  puts "Other"
end

Implicit object

Case allows for the use of an implicit object. This allows for example a when expression to be a method call on the case expression. Based on whether the method returns a truthy or falsey value, will the case be matched or not.

case 1
when .odd?
  puts "Odd"
when .even?
  puts "Even"
end