Switch case statements are commonly used in shell scripting to perform different actions based on different conditions. In a switch case statement, each case represents a condition, and the corresponding code block is executed if that condition is met.
But what about the default case? Which symbol represents it in shell scripting?
Understanding the Switch Case Statement
Before diving into the symbol representing the default case in shell scripting, let’s quickly understand how a switch case statement works.
A switch case statement consists of multiple cases and an optional default case. The syntax for a switch case statement in shell scripting is as follows:
case expression in
pattern1)
# Code block for pattern1
;;
pattern2)
# Code block for pattern2
;;
..
patternN)
# Code block for patternN
;;
*)
# Code block for default case
;;
esac
The ‘expression’ is evaluated, and its value is compared against each ‘pattern.’ If a match is found, the corresponding code block is executed. If none of the patterns match, the code block for the default case will be executed.
Symbol Representing the Default Case
In shell scripting, there isn’t a specific symbol to represent the default case in a switch case statement. Instead, an asterisk (*) is commonly used as a convention to denote the default case.
Let’s look at an example to understand this better:
#!/bin/bash
fruit="apple"
case $fruit in
"apple")
echo "Selected fruit: Apple"
;;
"banana")
echo "Selected fruit: Banana"
;;
*)
echo "Selected fruit: None of the above"
;;
esac
In the above example, if the value of the variable ‘fruit’ is neither “apple” nor “banana,” the default case will be triggered. The code block for the default case will be executed, resulting in the output: “Selected fruit: None of the above.”
Visual Representation of Default Case
To make it visually engaging and distinguishable, you can use HTML styling elements to highlight the default case. For example:
case $fruit in
“apple”)
echo “Selected fruit: Apple”
;;
“banana”)
echo “Selected fruit: Banana”
;;
*)
echo “Selected fruit: None of the above”
;;
esac
In this modified example, we have used the <b> tag to make the text bold and the <u> tag to underline it. This visually emphasizes the default case in a switch case statement.
Conclusion
The default case in a switch case statement is an essential part of shell scripting. While there isn’t a specific symbol to represent it, using an asterisk (*) conventionally denotes the default case. By incorporating HTML styling elements like <b>, <u>, and others, you can visually enhance your shell scripts and make them more engaging for readers.