Java: enumeration and if then else performance

I didn't have real luck. I used Google to get this concise answer rather than my time-consuming evaluation. I thought I would ask first

I'm pretty sure that switch statements using enumerations execute faster than if then else statements, but whether it's a significant difference is another question

Can someone explain it for me?

Thank you for your quick reply. I will consider future projects

Solution

Yes, because generally speaking, switch statements work faster than if / else chains

Although the generated bytecode does not always determine the source of performance comparison, you can check whether it has a better idea

For example, this Code:

class A { 
    enum N { ONE,TWO,THREE }
    void testSwitch( N e ) { 
        switch( e ) { 
            case ONE : x(); break;
            case TWO : x(); break;
            case THREE : x(); break;
        }
    }
    void testIf( Enum e ) { 
        if( e == N.ONE ) { x(); }
        else if( e == N.TWO ) { x(); }
        else if( e == N.THREE ) { x(); }
    }
    void x(){}
}

Generate the following:

Compiled from "A.java"
class A extends java.lang.Object{
A();
  Code:
   0:   aload_0
   1:   invokespecial   #1; //Method java/lang/Object."<init>":()V
   4:   return

void testSwitch(A$N);
  Code:
   0:   getstatic   #2; //Field A$1.$SwitchMap$A$N:[I
   3:   aload_1
   4:   invokevirtual   #3; //Method A$N.ordinal:()I
   7:   iaload
   8:   tableswitch{ //1 to 3
        1: 36;
        2: 43;
        3: 50;
        default: 54 }
   36:  aload_0
   37:  invokevirtual   #4; //Method x:()V
   40:  goto    54
   43:  aload_0
   44:  invokevirtual   #4; //Method x:()V
   47:  goto    54
   50:  aload_0
   51:  invokevirtual   #4; //Method x:()V
   54:  return

void testIf(java.lang.Enum);
  Code:
   0:   aload_1
   1:   getstatic   #5; //Field A$N.ONE:LA$N;
   4:   if_acmpne   14
   7:   aload_0
   8:   invokevirtual   #4; //Method x:()V
   11:  goto    39
   14:  aload_1
   15:  getstatic   #6; //Field A$N.TWO:LA$N;
   18:  if_acmpne   28
   21:  aload_0
   22:  invokevirtual   #4; //Method x:()V
   25:  goto    39
   28:  aload_1
   29:  getstatic   #7; //Field A$N.THREE:LA$N;
   32:  if_acmpne   39
   35:  aload_0
   36:  invokevirtual   #4; //Method x:()V
   39:  return

void x();
  Code:
   0:   return

}

Both situations seem to be quite fast

So choose one that is easier to maintain