![enter image description here](https://steemit-production-imageproxy-thumbnail.s3.amazonaws.com/U5drcG3vrppf3JtWrsGUfp8VkX29tCq_1680x8400)


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## INTRODUCTION TO PROGRAMMING

I am collating my study notes as part of my education into Computer Programming. In an attempt to increase and improve my own learning, and to help others also (learn by teaching) I will be sharing my notes, as neatly presented as possible, for others to follow along with if they so wish. This is Lesson 6's notes.


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EARLIER LESSONS

[Lesson 1 Notes](https://steemit.com/education/@humate/introduction-to-computer-programming)
[Lesson 2 Notes](https://steemit.com/education/@humate/introduction-to-computer-programming-part-2)
[Lesson 3 Notes](https://steemit.com/education/@humate/introduction-to-computer-programming-part-3)
[Lesson 4 Notes](https://steemit.com/education/@humate/introduction-to-computer-programming-part-4)
[Lesson 5 Notes](https://steemit.com/education/@humate/introduction-to-computer-programming-part-5)


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![enter image description here](https://steemit-production-imageproxy-thumbnail.s3.amazonaws.com/U5drtM9Qos9WMkJj6w1DoVNDSLa3C2C_1680x8400)

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### INTRODUCTION TO COMPUTER PROGRAMMING – STUDY NOTES
**LESSON 6**


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**SWITCH STATEMENT**

Switch statement = a selection statement whereby a certain expression or a variable is checked against a number of possibilities. 

The switch statement does not exist in the Python language.

    switch (expression)
    {
      case constant1:
        Statements;
        break;
      case constant2:
        Statements;
        break;
      case constant3:
        Statements;
        break;
      default:
        Default-Statements;
    }

The `switch statement` example will first check `case constant1`. If that is `true` then that statement gets run. Then the `break statement` is applied and it jumps out of the switch at that point. If `case constant1` is `false` then it moves on to `case constant2` and checks that one. And so on until it runs through hall options, either finding a statement that is `true`, or reaching the `default statement`. If it reaches the default then it runs that one.

If there is no `break statement` then all of them will get run.

LINK: [Switch Statement](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Switch_statement) 


![enter image description here](https://s19.postimg.org/6hlp6g6b7/Lesson_6_1.jpg)

In the code example above, the `switch statement` looks for the correct answer. The variable `age` has already been set at 1, but in a real life example it would most like be input by the user. The switch rotates through each `case constant` until it finds the one that is `true`, and then runs the statement for that.


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**COMMENTS** 

Comments are lines in the code marked by // in C++ or something similar in the other programming languages. Comments do not affect code functionality (unless erroneously place into a non-comment line of code). They act as documentation in the source code.

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**RECAP OF EARLIER LESSONS**

In **Lesson 1** we briefly looked at:

- What is a programming language?
- Language Types – especially HIGH Level and LOW Level.
- Compiled vs Interpreted Languages
- Data Types: Strongly Typed vs Weakly Typed Languages.
- Data Types: The most common data types (characters, integers, floating-point, fixed-point, boolean, reference).

In **Lesson 2** we looked briefly looked at:

- Variables
- Constants

These both flow on from Data Types and work with these.

In **Lesson 3** we looked briefly at:

- Operators

Used to allow operations (such as multiplication) to be performed on variables or constants.

In **Lesson 4** we looked briefly at:

- Conditional Statements

*If*, *If-Else*, *If-Then* Statements, which are used to control the flow of a program.

In **Lesson 5** we looked briefly at:

- Loops

*While*, *Do-While*, and *For* loops.

- Break Statement.
- Continue Statement.

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![enter image description here](https://steemit-production-imageproxy-thumbnail.s3.amazonaws.com/U5dsT9d5jbweoK8z1LMpCpf62x6uPhp_1680x8400)

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**FURTHER DATA**

[cpp.sh](cpp.sh) - C++ shell website
Scratchpad - Shift + F4 on Firefox - Javascript shell
[Dev C++](https://sourceforge.net/projects/orwelldevcpp/) - A free, portable, fast and simple C/C++ IDE
[Code::Blocks](http://www.codeblocks.org/) - A free C, C++ and Fortran IDE
[Ideone](https://ideone.com/) - an online compiler and debugging tool which allows youto compile source code and execute it online in more than 60 programming languages.


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My Posts

[Introduction From a Newbie Programmer](https://steemit.com/introduceyourself/@humate/introduction-from-a-newbie-programmer) and [Intro - part 2](https://steemit.com/introduceyourself/@humate/my-introduction-part-2)
[Introduction to Computer Programming - part 1](https://steemit.com/education/@humate/introduction-to-computer-programming) (Lesson 1)
[Introduction to Computer Programming - part 2](https://steemit.com/education/@humate/introduction-to-computer-programming-part-2) (Lesson 2)
[Introduction to Computer Programming - part 3](https://steemit.com/education/@humate/introduction-to-computer-programming-part-3) (Lesson 3)
[Introduction to Computer Programming - part 4](https://steemit.com/education/@humate/introduction-to-computer-programming-part-4) (Lesson 4)


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Images from unsplash.com, except code screenshots, which are my own.

I welcome new [followers](https://steemit.com/@humate), and thank you for your upvotes and comments.