freeCodeCamp/guide/english/certifications/javascript-algorithms-and-data-structures/basic-javascript/replacing-if-else-chains-with-switch/index.md

---
title: Replacing If Else Chains with Switch
---
## Replacing If Else Chains with Switch

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Here’s the setup:

```javascript
function chainToSwitch(val) {
  var answer = "";
  // Only change code below this line
  switch(val) {
    case "bob":
        answer = "Marley";
        break;
    case 42:
        answer = "The Answer";
        break;
    case 1:
        answer = "There is no #1";
        break;
    case 99:
        answer = "Missed me by this much!";
        break;
    case 7:
        answer = "Ate Nine";
        break;
  }
  // Only change code above this line
  return answer;
}
// Change this value to test
chainToSwitch(7);
```

We need to change the chained ```if/else if``` statements into a ```switch``` statement.

 Here’s a solution:

 Now, we need to comment (```//``` - select all lines and ```ctrl+/```) all chained ```if/else if``` statements:

 ```javascript
 //   if (val === "bob") {
//     answer = "Marley";
//   } else if (val === 42) {
//     answer = "The Answer";
//   } else if (val === 1) {
//     answer = "There is no #1";
//   } else if (val === 99) {
//     answer = "Missed me by this much!";
//   } else if (val === 7) {
//     answer = "Ate Nine";
//   }
 ```

 Next, we need to create simple ```switch``` statement:

 ```javascript
 switch(val) {
 }
 ```

 and add in this ```switch``` statement ```case``` - for all ```if/else if``` statement (just copy it from our commented code above):

  ```javascript
  switch(val) {
    case "bob":
        answer = "Marley";
        break;
    case 42:
        answer = "The Answer";
        break;
    case 1:
        answer = "There is no #1";
        break;
    case 99:
        answer = "Missed me by this much!";
        break;
    case 7:
        answer = "Ate Nine";
        break;
  }
  ```

 Dont forget to use ```break``` in each ```case```!
 Now, we can delete commented code with ```if/else if``` statement above.

 Here’s a full solution:

 ```javascript
 function chainToSwitch(val) {
  var answer = "";
  // Only change code below this line
  switch(val) {
    case "bob":
        answer = "Marley";
        break;
    case 42:
        answer = "The Answer";
        break;
    case 1:
        answer = "There is no #1";
        break;
    case 99:
        answer = "Missed me by this much!";
        break;
    case 7:
        answer = "Ate Nine";
        break;
  }
  // Only change code above this line
  return answer;
}
// Change this value to test
chainToSwitch(7);
 ```