Arizona State University (ASU) CSE110 Principles of Programming Exam 1 Practice

The switch statement in Java is designed to compare a single expression against multiple constant values, which is why option D is correct. This control flow statement allows for easier and more readable handling of multiple possible values of a variable, making it more efficient and convenient than writing out several if-else statements.

In a switch statement, you provide a value to be evaluated, and each case represents a potential match. If the expression matches the constant defined in a case, the code block associated with that case executes. This structure helps to simplify the logic when dealing with multiple discrete values, particularly when the program needs to execute different segments of code depending on the value of the variable.

While the switch statement resembles if statements, especially in its logical flow, it is specifically focused on comparing a single value against distinct constants or enumerated values. This is beneficial for readability since it organizes related conditions under a single framework rather than scattering them throughout multiple if statements.

In contrast, the other options either misrepresent the functionality of the switch statement or introduce additional concepts that do not accurately depict its mechanism. The switch statement does not combine multiple conditions within a single case nor does it require a break statement in every case, as it may not always be mandatory depending on the logic intended