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A switch block comprises several case labels and an optional but highly recommended default label. By convention, statements Statements that follow each case label must end with a break statement, which is responsible for transferring the control to the end of the switch block. When omitted, the next statement statements in the subsequent case label gets are executed. Because the break statement is optional, its omission omitting it produces no compiler warnings. If When this behavior is unintentional, it can lead to undesirable control flowscause unexpected control flow.

Noncompliant Code Example

In this noncompliant code example, the case wherein where the card is 11 does not have lacks a break statement. As a result, execution continues with the statements for card = 12 are also executed when card = 11.

int card = 11;

switch (card) {
  /* ... */
  case 11: 
    System.out.println("Jack");
  case 12: 
    System.out.println("Queen"); 
    break;
  case 13: 
    System.out.println("King"); 
    break;
  default: 
    System.out.println("Invalid Card"); 
    break;
}

Compliant Solution

In this This compliant solution , terminates each case (including the default case) is terminated by with a break statement.:

int card = 11;

switch (card) {
  /* ... */
  case 11: 
    System.out.println("Jack");
    break;
  case 12: 
    System.out.println("Queen"); 
    break;
  case 13: 
    System.out.println("King"); 
    break;
  default: 
    System.out.println("Invalid Card"); 
    break;
}

Exceptions

Applicability

Failure to include break statements can cause unexpected control flow.

The break statement at the end of the final case in a switch statement may be omitted. By convention, this is the default labelEX1: The last label in a switch statement requires no break. The break statement serves to skip to transfer control to the end of the switch block. Fall-through behavior also causes control to arrive at the end of the switch block. Consequently, so control flow will continue transfers to the statements following the switch block with or without it. Conventionally, the last label is the default label.EX2without regard to the presence or absence of the break statement. Nevertheless, the final case in a switch statement should end with a break statement in accordance with good programming style [Vermeulen 2000].

Exceptionally, when multiple cases require execution of identical code, break statements may be omitted from all cases except the last one. Similarly, when processing for one case is a proper prefix of processing for one or more other cases, the break statement may be omitted from the prefix case. This should be clearly indicated with a comment. For example:: In some cases, where control flow is intended to execute the same code for multiple cases, it is permissible to omit the break statement. However, these instances must be explicitly documented.

int card = 11;
int value;

//* CaseCases 11,12,13 fall through to the same case */
switch (card) {
  // Processing for this case requires a prefix
  // of the actions for the following three
  case 10:
    do_something(card);
    //* Intentional MSC13-J:EX2: thesefall-through
    // These three cases are treated identically */
  case 11:        // Break not required
  case 12:        // Break not required
  case 13: 
    value = 10; 
    break;        // Break required
  default: 
    //* Handle Errorerror Conditioncondition */ 
}

EX3: A case needs no break statement if its last statement is Also, when a case ends with a return or throw.

Risk Assessment

Failure to include break statements leads to unexpected control flow.

Other Languages

This rule appears in the C Secure Coding Standard as MSC17-C. Finish every set of statements associated with a case label with a break statement.

This rule appears in the C++ Secure Coding Standard as MSC18-CPP. Finish every set of statements associated with a case label with a break statement.

Related Vulnerabilities

Search for vulnerabilities resulting from the violation of this rule on the CERT website.

References

statement, the break statement may be omitted.

Automated Detection

Bibliography

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Image Added Image Added Image Added Wiki Markup\[[JLS 05|AA. Java References#JLS 05]\] [Section 14.11 The switch Statement|http://java.sun.com/docs/books/jls/third_edition/html/statements.html#14.11]