When Expressions in Kotlin

Introduction

Kotlin, a modern and expressive programming language developed by JetBrains, offers various control flow structures that make code more readable and concise. One such feature is the when expression, which serves as a powerful replacement for traditional switch statements found in languages like Java and C.

Unlike switch, which is limited to constant values, Kotlin’s when expression supports a wide range of conditions, making it highly flexible. In this article, we will explore when expressions in detail, including their syntax, use cases, and best practices, along with examples to help you master this feature.

Understanding When Expressions in Kotlin

A when expression in Kotlin allows you to evaluate a value against multiple conditions and execute the corresponding block of code. It enhances readability and reduces the need for repetitive if/else statements.

Basic Syntax

The basic syntax of a when expression is as follows:

when (value) {
    condition1 -> action1
    condition2 -> action2
    else -> defaultAction
}

Unlike Java’s switch, Kotlin’s when does not require explicit break statements since it does not fall through to subsequent cases.

Example

fun checkNumber(num: Int): String {
    return when (num) {
        1 -> "One"
        2 -> "Two"
        3 -> "Three"
        else -> "Unknown number"
    }
}

fun main() {
    println(checkNumber(2)) // Output: Two
}

When as an Expression

One of the most significant advantages of when in Kotlin is that it can be used as an expression rather than just a statement. This means it can return a value and be assigned to a variable.

Example

val message = when (val day = 3) {
    1 -> "Monday"
    2 -> "Tuesday"
    3 -> "Wednesday"
    else -> "Invalid day"
}

println(message) // Output: Wednesday

Using Multiple Conditions in a Single Case

Kotlin allows multiple conditions to be grouped together using a comma.

Example

fun getVowelType(letter: Char): String {
    return when (letter) {
        'a', 'e', 'i', 'o', 'u' -> "Vowel"
        else -> "Consonant"
    }
}

fun main() {
    println(getVowelType('e')) // Output: Vowel
}

When with Ranges

Kotlin allows using ranges (..) within when expressions to check if a value falls within a specific range.

Example

fun gradeScore(score: Int): String {
    return when (score) {
        in 90..100 -> "A"
        in 80..89 -> "B"
        in 70..79 -> "C"
        in 60..69 -> "D"
        else -> "F"
    }
}

fun main() {
    println(gradeScore(85)) // Output: B
}

When Without an Argument

Kotlin allows when to be used without an argument, effectively replacing multiple if/else conditions.

Example

fun numberType(num: Int): String {
    return when {
        num > 0 -> "Positive"
        num < 0 -> "Negative"
        else -> "Zero"
    }
}

fun main() {
    println(numberType(-5)) // Output: Negative
}

When with Type Checking and Smart Casts

Kotlin’s when can be used to check the type of an object, enabling smart casts inside branches.

Example

fun describe(obj: Any): String {
    return when (obj) {
        is String -> "It's a string with length ${obj.length}"
        is Int -> "It's an integer with value $obj"
        is Boolean -> "It's a boolean with value $obj"
        else -> "Unknown type"
    }
}

fun main() {
    println(describe("Kotlin"))  // Output: It's a string with length 6
    println(describe(42))         // Output: It's an integer with value 42
    println(describe(true))       // Output: It's a boolean with value true
}

When with Enum Classes

Kotlin’s when works seamlessly with enum classes, making it a great tool for handling enum-based logic.

Example

enum class Day {
    MONDAY, TUESDAY, WEDNESDAY, THURSDAY, FRIDAY, SATURDAY, SUNDAY
}

fun weekendOrWeekday(day: Day): String {
    return when (day) {
        Day.SATURDAY, Day.SUNDAY -> "Weekend"
        else -> "Weekday"
    }
}

fun main() {
    println(weekendOrWeekday(Day.FRIDAY)) // Output: Weekday
}

When with Sealed Classes

Sealed classes in Kotlin allow exhaustive pattern matching in when expressions, making them a great alternative to enum when additional functionality is needed.

Example

sealed class Shape {
    class Circle(val radius: Double) : Shape()
    class Rectangle(val width: Double, val height: Double) : Shape()
}

fun calculateArea(shape: Shape): Double {
    return when (shape) {
        is Shape.Circle -> Math.PI * shape.radius * shape.radius
        is Shape.Rectangle -> shape.width * shape.height
    }
}

fun main() {
    val circle = Shape.Circle(5.0)
    println("Area: ${calculateArea(circle)}") // Output: Area: 78.53981633974483
}

Best Practices for Using When Expressions

1. Use when for multiple conditions – when is often more readable than multiple if/else statements.
2. Prefer when without arguments for boolean conditions – When checking different boolean expressions, using when without an argument is cleaner.
3. Leverage when with ranges and types – Using when with ranges and type checking enhances code clarity.
4. Ensure exhaustive handling in when expressions – If working with enum or sealed classes, make sure all cases are covered.

Conclusion

Kotlin’s when expression is a powerful and flexible alternative to switch statements, providing greater readability and functionality. Whether you are evaluating values, checking types, handling enums, or working with sealed classes, when expressions make conditional logic simpler and more expressive. By understanding and utilizing when effectively, you can write cleaner, more maintainable Kotlin code.

Mastering when expressions will enhance your ability to write concise, efficient, and readable Kotlin programs. Happy coding!