How to use Char in Switch Case

Question

How to make this work

 #include <stdio.h>
    #include <conio.h>
    main()
    {
        char C;
        printf("R=This Program gives you some of the information of the country you entered.");
        printf("Enter a Country:");
        scanf("%c", &C);
        switch(C)
        {
            case 'Algeria':
                printf("Capital: Algiers");
                printf("Currency and Country Code: Algerian Dinar (DZD)");
                break;
            }   



        getch ();
        return 0;
    }

The Error is

11 8 C:\Users\Edrian\Desktop\C++ Codes\World Information.cpp [Warning] character constant too long for its type

C:\Users\Edrian\Desktop\C++ Codes\World Information.cpp In function 'int main()':

11 8 C:\Users\Edrian\Desktop\C++ Codes\World Information.cpp [Warning] case label value exceeds maximum value for
type

Related: [Why the switch statement cannot be applied on strings?](https://stackoverflow.com/questions/650162/why-the-switch-statement-cannot-be-applied-on-strings) — Yksisarvinen, Jan 27 '19 at 12:26
Reminder: a `char` or *character* is a single, one, letter or symbol. A *string* is zero or more characters. The `switch` works with *single* characters. — Thomas Matthews, Jan 27 '19 at 17:57

score 1 · Answer 1 · answered Jan 27 '19 at 12:17

1

Char contains only one character if you want to use more than one character you have to use string data type.In your case you should use string

answered Jan 27 '19 at 12:17

Arain001

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score 1 · Answer 2 · answered Jan 27 '19 at 12:41

11 8 C:\Users\Edrian\Desktop\C++ Codes\World Information.cpp [Warning] character constant too long for its type

This says that 'Algeria' is too long for the type char, which should be a single letter, e.g. 'A' (as suggested here).

    char string[256];
    scanf("%255s", string);
    switch (s[0]) {
        case 'A':
            if (0 == strcmp(string, "Algeria")) {

This should work. You may need to #include <string.h> for strcmp.

Notice how "Algeria" is now double-quoted, while 'A' is single-quoted.

I elided out lines that would be the same in both, mostly printf statements. Make sure that you get the curly braces right. I added a { for the if. You'll need to add a } to match (before the break;).

You could also say

if (!strcmp(string, "Algeria")) {

But I thought that it might be easier for you to read the other way. Functionally the two statements are the same, as C considers zero to be falsey.

How to use Char in Switch Case

3 Answers3