Variables in javascript switch cases?

Question

I want to use variables as the values for each case in a switch statement, but it doesnt seem to work:

switch(key) {  

    case keyNext: 
      //go to next
      break;

    case keyPrev: 
      //go to prev
      break;
}

I really need the switch statement because unlike in this example, I have lots of different cases.

Why doesnt this work? Any workarounds for it?

EDIT: as said in the answers, this is perfectly valid. I was using properties of an object as the values for each case, and there was a syntax problem with it.

What is key? Is it event.keycode? Your switch is syntactically correct, but how are you mapping keycodes to keyNext, keyPrev? Are they defined by a framework? — Michael Berkowski
– Michael Berkowski, Commented Sep 2, 2011 at 13:10
Your code seems ok... Maybe add a snippet of some of your cases so I can help better? Since you have a lot of cases, maybe you have a syntax error somewhere — nurnachman
– nurnachman, Commented Sep 2, 2011 at 13:13

Loktar · Accepted Answer · 2011-09-02 13:15:05Z

1

You can use variables to check against, see the following example. You just need to make sure they are declared and given a value. May need to see more of what your working with to see if the issue is arising elsewhere.

Live Demo

var keyNext = 1, // or "1" what have you,
    keyPrev = 2,
    key = keyPrev; // or key = 1

switch(key) {  

    case keyNext: 
      alert('Next');
      break;

    case keyPrev: 
      alert('Prev');
      break;
}

edited Sep 2, 2011 at 13:15

answered Sep 2, 2011 at 13:10

Loktar

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1 Comment

agente_secreto Over a year ago

I see. Then my problem is somewhere else. My variables are actually properties of an object (I tried to simplify the question since I thought it was the same). Like appname.config.keyNext instead of keyNext. That should work too, right?

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