Thread: Using the Fall Through Feature of a Switch statement

Just wanted to share this little beautiful illustration of the "fall through" feature of a switch statement, and how it can be used. (and why you need the break statement after every case, if you don't want it)

This is the way I remember it working.

Code:

/* The Twelve Days of Christmas lyrics, showing the "fall through" feature of the switch statement 
*/

#include <stdio.h>

int main(void) {

  int day;
  char numbers[][13]={"empty","first","second","third","fourth","fifth","sixth","seventh","eight","ninth","tenth","eleventh","twelfth"};
  printf("\n\n\n\t\t   Welcome to the Twelve Days of Christmas");

  for(day = 1; day < 13; day++) {
    printf("\n\n On the %s Day of Christmas, My True Love Gave to Me:\n", numbers[day]);

    switch(day) {
      case 12: printf("\n 12 Drummers Drumming");
      case 11: printf("\n 11 Pipers Piping");
      case 10: printf("\n 10 Lords a'Leaping");
      case 9: printf("\n  9 Ladies Dancing");
      case 8: printf("\n  8 Maids a'Milking");
      case 7: printf("\n  7 Swans a'Swimming");
      case 6: printf("\n  6 Geese a'Laying");
      case 5: printf("\n  5 Golden Rings");
      case 4: printf("\n  4 Calling Birds");
      case 3: printf("\n  3 French Hens");
      case 2: printf("\n  2 Turtle Doves");
      case 1: 
        if(day > 1) 
          printf("\n  And a Partridge in a Pear Tree");
        else
          printf("\n  A Partride in a Pear Tree");
    }
    if(day < 12) {
      printf("\n\n\t\t   press enter to see the next day's presents");
      getchar();
    }
  }
  
  printf("\n\n\t\t\t     press enter when ready");
  day = getchar();

  return 0;
}

Nice ,