How to get return value from switch statement?

In chrome's console, when I type:

> switch(3){default:"OK"}
  "OK"

So looks like the switch statement has a return value. But when I do:

> var a = switch(3){default:"OK"}

It throws a syntax error "Unexpected Token switch"

Is it possible to capture the return statement of the switch?

Solution 1:

That's because when you're putting that into the Chrome console, you're short-circuiting it. It's just printing 'OK' because it's reaching the default case, not actually returning something.

If you want something returned, stick it in a function, and return the 'OK' from in the default case.

function switchResult(a){
    switch(a){
        default: 
            return "OK";
    }
}

var a = switchResult(3);

Solution 2:

Perhaps interesting to note that you dont need the clutter of ;break; statements if you wrap it in a function. (as described by heloandre)

function switchResult(a){   
    switch(a){   
        case 1: return "FOO";
        case 2: return "BAR";
        case 3: return "FOOBAR";
        default: return "OK";      
    }
}
var a = switchResult(3);