Strings → Java Switch

Complete the W3Schools lessons from Strings through Java Switch.

Reminder: Make sure you put all code challenge snippets in the doc under your name tab.

Real Code Example

Take a look at this code from our 2026 robot:

switch (currentState) {
    case RUN:
        if (timer.hasElapsed(indexingConstants.forwardTime)) {
            setState(spindexer_state.REVERSE);
        }
        break;
 
    case REVERSE:
        if (timer.hasElapsed(indexingConstants.reverseTime)) {
            setState(spindexer_state.RUN);
        }
        break;
}

Here, there is a whole lot of stuff that you see. Not a lot of it is important, but here is what you should notice.

First, notice the if statements used in the code. You learned about these in the W3Schools lesson, and you know that the code in the parentheses directly next to the if keyword must represent a boolean value.

Right now, timer.hasElapsed(indexingConstants.forwardTime) probably looks a little scary, but know that it represents a boolean value through something called a method. If you stick along, you will learn what that means later.

Second, there is a switch statement here. In your lesson, you likely saw a switch statement using something like an int:

int day = 4;
 
switch (day) {
    case 1:
        // ...
        break;
 
    case 2:
        // ...
        break;
 
    // Etcetera...
}

In this code, we are using something called an enum. For now, think of an enum as a way to represent a group of constant values for use in representing a fixed number of possibilities.

You will learn exactly what it does later in the training.

Exercise

Project – Elevator State Interpreter (Switch Statements)

Objective

In real robot code we use enums, but to practice, you will use switch statements with Strings by creating a simple robot elevator state interpreter.

Imagine you are programming a robot elevator. Another part of the robot code tells your program what position the elevator should move to by setting a String variable.

The possible states are:

• "down"
• "level1"
• "level2"
• "level3"
• "up"

Your job is to use a switch statement to determine which state is active and print a message to the console.

Starter Code

public class Main {
    public static void main(String[] args) {
 
        String elevatorState = "level2";
 
        // Write your switch statement here
 
    }
}

Requirements

• Create a switch statement that checks the value of elevatorState.
• Print the following messages:

• Include a default case that prints:

  Unknown elevator state!

• Remember to include a break; after each case.

Test Your Program

Try changing the value of elevatorState to each of the following:

"down"
"level1"
"level2"
"level3"
"up"
"banana"

Verify that your program prints the correct output each time.

Challenge (Optional)

Instead of simply printing the state, print a short description of what the robot is doing.

Example outputs:

Elevator is DOWN. Ready to intake.

Elevator is at LEVEL 2. Preparing to score.

Elevator is FULLY UP. Maximum height reached.

Unknown elevator state!

When you’re done and your code works with no errors, add it to your doc!