Java - switch case, Multiple cases call the same function

Question

Since I have multiple String cases which should be handled the same way, I tried:

switch(str) {
// compiler error
case "apple", "orange", "pieapple":
  handleFruit();
  break;
}

But I get a compiler error.

Should I have to, in Java, call the same function case by case:

switch(str) {
  case "apple":
      handleFruit();
       break;
  // repeat above thing for each fruit
  ...
}

Is there no simpler style?

Answer 1

You have to use case keyword for each String like this :

switch (str) {
    //which mean if String equals to
    case "apple":      // apple
    case "orange":     // or orange
    case "pieapple":   // or pieapple
        handleFruit();
        break;
}

---

Edit 02/05/2019

Java 12

From Java 12 there are a new syntax of switch case proposed, so to solve this issue, here is the way:

switch (str) {
    case "apple", "orange", "pieapple" -> handleFruit();
}

Now, you can just make the choices separated by comma, the an arrow -> then the action you want to do.

Another syntax also is :

consider that each case return a value, and you want to set values in a variable, lets suppose that handleFruit() return a String the old syntax should be :

String result;  //  <-------------------------- declare 
switch (str) {
    //which mean if String equals to
    case "apple":      // apple
    case "orange":     // or orange
    case "pieapple":   // or pieapple
        result = handleFruit();  //      <----- then assign
        break;
}

now with Java 12, you can make it like this :

String result = switch (str) { //  <----------- declare and assign in one shot
    case "apple", "orange", "pieapple" -> handleFruit();
}

Nice syntax

Answer 2

Java supports fall-through when you have no break:

case "apple":
case "orange":
case "pieapple":
    handleFruit();
    break;