php use switch within echo statement - php

Question

I need to use a statement like switch within echo statement
I found a way for this ,but i think this is not the best way for this
when we want to use IF inside echo,write some thing like:
echo ((condition)?'print this if condition is True':'print this if condition is False');
we could use this method for a way like switch:
echo ((case1)?'case 1 result':((case2)?'case2 result':((case3)?'case3 result':'default result')));
are you know a better way for this?

Answer 1

Your example is called ternary operators its basically short hand for an if statement.
So in your second example you're just doing a load of chained if then else's
You're far better off doing something like this
switch ($type)) {
case "txt":
$output = "images/doctypes/icon_txt.gif";
break;
case "doc":
$output = "images/doctypes/icon_doc.gif";
break;
case "docx":
$output = "images/doctypes/icon_doc.gif";
break;
case "pdf":
$output = "images/doctypes/icon_pdf.gif";
break;
case "xls":
$output = "images/doctypes/icon_xls.gif";
break;
case "xlsx":
$output = "images/doctypes/icon_xls.gif";
break;
case "ppt":
$output = "images/doctypes/icon_ppt.gif";
break;
case "pptx":
$output = "images/doctypes/icon_txt.gif";
break;
case "rtf":
$output = "images/doctypes/icon_txt.gif";
break;
case "zip":
$output = "images/doctypes/icon_zip.gif";
break;
case "rar":
$output = "images/doctypes/icon_zip.gif";
break;
case "mdb":
$output = "images/doctypes/mdb.gif";
break;
default:
$output = "images/doctypes/icon_generic.gif";
};
echo $output;

Answer 2

Hmm. If I understand correctly, you want to know the how-maniest condition was the first successful one?
I just thought this up... See if it fits you.
Just replace the false/true with your conditions.
$i = 0;
++$i AND false OR // 1
++$i AND false OR // 2
++$i AND false OR // 3
++$i AND true OR // 4 (here we go)
++$i AND false OR // 5
++$i AND true OR // 6 (ignored)
++$i AND false OR // 7
$i = 0; // 0
echo "case" . $i . " result"; // echoes 'case4 result'
EDIT:
Here is another approach with the same technique.
But in stead of a counter, you can give your own on-success string.
Remember to just replace the false/true with your conditions.
function dostuff($str) { echo $str; return true;}
false AND dostuff('string1') OR
false AND dostuff('string2') OR
false AND dostuff('string3') OR
true AND dostuff('string4') OR // echoes 'string4'
false AND dostuff('string5') OR
true AND dostuff('string6') OR // ignored
false AND dostuff('string7');