What is the difference between return and break in a switch case?

The return ends the execution of the method regardless of where it is and returns the value.

The break force (manually) the output of a loop or conditional in the case of switch .

In the second code if there is something else to be executed then switch will be executed, if it was a return as in the first example the method would end up right there.

The example below shows that in this context the use of break and return is exactly the same, once made the choice the method ends no other action happens.

As for the use of the most suitable for the situation some important points to think about are:

• Do I need to return value?

• When choosing return should I use the single return technique (SESE)?

Recommended reading:

Why should I only use a "return" on each function?

Example - ideone

class Ideone
{
    public static void main (String[] args) throws java.lang.Exception
    {
        System.out.println("Com Break: "+ comBreak(1));
        System.out.println("Com Return: "+ comReturn(1));
    }

    public static String comBreak(int mes){
        String mesExtenso = "";
        switch (mes){
            case 1: 
                mesExtenso = "Janeiro";
                break;
            case 2: 
                mesExtenso = "Fevereiro";
                break;              
            case 3: 
                mesExtenso = "Março";
                break;              
            default: 
                mesExtenso = "Mês inválido";
                break;              
        }
        System.out.println("Instruções executadas antes do return");
        return mesExtenso;
    }


    public static String comReturn(int mes){

        switch (mes){
            case 1: 
                return "Janeiro";
            case 2: 
                return "Fevereiro";
            case 3: 
                return "Março";
            default: 
                return "Mês inválido";
        }
        //Qualquer instrução daqui para baixo gera o erro "unreachable statement"
        //return "Forever alone :( ....";

    }   

}

The break , only terminates the execution of switch and goes to the next statement after it, is essentially the same as that occurring in a loop. The return does nothing special inside it, it terminates the execution of the function where that code is.

The answer accepted there in the OS is confusing and almost wrong.

I'm sorry to disagree with the 'almost wrong'.

The response in the OS says that RETURN returns immediately to the point where it was called while break only exits the loop without returning - ie the function could continue doing other things before returning. >

What, in my opinion, is correct.