🐍 Match / Case

switch

Good to know

⭐️ Python has no traditional switch-case, but since Python 3.10 you can use match / case, which is more powerful and expressive. It supports simple matching, multiple options, default cases, and even pattern matching.

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Basic Match/Case

Works like a classic switch-case.

command = "start"
 
match command:
    case "start":
        print("Engine started")
    case "stop":
        print("Engine stopped")
    case _:
        print("Unknown command")  # default case

---

Multiple Options in One Case

Use | to match several values.

status = 404
 
match status:
    case 200 | 201:
        print("Success")
    case 400 | 404:
        print("Client error")
    case _:
        print("Other status")

---

Match With Variables (Binding)

You can capture parts of the pattern.

message = ("error", 500)
 
match message:
    case ("error", code):
        print("Error code:", code)
    case _:
        print("Unknown message")

---

Match Structured Data (Tuples, Lists, Dict-like)

Pattern matching can inspect structure.

data = ["move", 10]
 
match data:
    case ["move", steps]:
        print("Move", steps, "steps")
    case _:
        print("Invalid command")

---

Match Against Types

Useful for safely handling mixed inputs.

value = 3.14
 
match value:
    case int():
        print("Integer")
    case float():
        print("Float")
    case str():
        print("String")

---

Match with Guards (If-Conditions)

Add extra logic to a case.

number = 12
 
match number:
    case x if x % 2 == 0:
        print("Even number")
    case _:
        print("Odd number")