Why can't I use switch statement on a String?

Question

Is this functionality going to be put into a later Java version?

Can someone explain why I can\'t do this, as in, the technical way Java\'s switch state

Answer 1

If you have a place in your code where you can switch on a String, then it may be better to refactor the String to be an enumeration of the possible values, which you can switch on. Of course, you limit the potential values of Strings you can have to those in the enumeration, which may or may not be desired.

Of course your enumeration could have an entry for 'other', and a fromString(String) method, then you could have

ValueEnum enumval = ValueEnum.fromString(myString);
switch (enumval) {
   case MILK: lap(); break;
   case WATER: sip(); break;
   case BEER: quaff(); break;
   case OTHER: 
   default: dance(); break;
}