How does Pattern Matching for switch work in Java 21?

JEP 441 finalises pattern matching in switch expressions and statements, extending the type-test patterns introduced in Java 16 (instanceof) to the full switch construct. It eliminates long chains of if-else instanceof casts and brings exhaustiveness checking to the compiler.

sealed interface Shape permits Circle, Rectangle, Triangle {}
record Circle(double radius) implements Shape {}
record Rectangle(double w, double h) implements Shape {}
record Triangle(double base, double height) implements Shape {}

// Pattern matching switch expression
static double area(Shape s) {
    return switch (s) {
        case Circle c         -> Math.PI * c.radius() * c.radius();
        case Rectangle r      -> r.w() * r.h();
        case Triangle t       -> 0.5 * t.base() * t.height();
        // No default needed — sealed hierarchy is exhaustive
    };
}

// Guarded patterns — 'when' clause adds a boolean condition
static String classify(Object obj) {
    return switch (obj) {
        case Integer i when i < 0  -> "Negative int";
        case Integer i when i == 0 -> "Zero";
        case Integer i             -> "Positive int: " + i;
        case String s  when s.isEmpty() -> "Empty string";
        case String s              -> "String: " + s;
        case null                  -> "null value";
        default                    -> "Other: " + obj;
    };
}

// Dominance rule: more specific patterns must come first
// case Integer i when i < 0 must precede case Integer i

Three important rules in Java 21 pattern switch:

1. Exhaustiveness: the compiler checks that all possible input values are covered; missing a subtype of a sealed class is a compile error, not a runtime problem.
2. Guarded patterns (when clause): replaces the old && idiom inside case blocks.
3. Null handling: a case null arm can be written explicitly; without it a null input still throws NullPointerException as before.

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