PHP Switch and Nested If Statements Practice Questions with Solutions

By /

Introductions

PHP provides different ways to control the flow of a program based on conditions. The switch statement is useful when one variable needs to be compared against multiple possible values. A nested if statement allows you to check a condition inside another if or else block. In this chapter, you will practise both concepts through PHP Switch and Nested If Statements Practice Questions with Solutions to help you build concepts.

Question 1: Display a Day Name Using a Switch Statement

Problem Statement

Write a PHP program that stores a number from 1 to 7 and displays the corresponding day of the week using a switch statement. Display an appropriate message if the number is outside the valid range.

PHP Solution

<?php
$dayNumber = 3;

switch ($dayNumber) {
    case 1:
        echo "Monday";
        break;

    case 2:
        echo "Tuesday";
        break;

    case 3:
        echo "Wednesday";
        break;

    case 4:
        echo "Thursday";
        break;

    case 5:
        echo "Friday";
        break;

    case 6:
        echo "Saturday";
        break;

    case 7:
        echo "Sunday";
        break;

    default:
        echo "Invalid day number";
}
?>

Sample Output

Wednesday

Explanation

The variable $dayNumber contains the value 3. PHP compares it with each case value and executes the matching block. Since 3 matches case 3, the program displays Wednesday.

The break statement stops execution from continuing into the following cases. The default block runs when no case matches.

Concepts Covered

  • switch statement
  • case and break
  • default block
  • Conditional program flow

Question 2: Create a Simple Calculator Using Switch

Problem Statement

Write a PHP program that performs addition, subtraction, multiplication, or division based on the selected operator. Use a switch statement to select the operation and handle division by zero.

PHP Solution

<?php
$num1 = 20;
$num2 = 5;
$operator = "/";

switch ($operator) {
    case "+":
        echo "Result: " . ($num1 + $num2);
        break;

    case "-":
        echo "Result: " . ($num1 - $num2);
        break;

    case "*":
        echo "Result: " . ($num1 * $num2);
        break;

    case "/":
        if ($num2 != 0) {
            echo "Result: " . ($num1 / $num2);
        } else {
            echo "Cannot divide by zero";
        }
        break;

    default:
        echo "Invalid operator";
}
?>

Sample Output

Result: 4

Explanation

The program stores two numbers and the operator in variables. The switch statement checks the operator and selects the matching mathematical operation.

Here, the operator is /, so PHP divides 20 by 5. Before division, an if statement checks whether the second number is zero. This prevents an invalid division.

Concepts Covered

  • switch statement
  • Arithmetic operators
  • Nested if statement
  • Division-by-zero handling
  • default case

Question 3: Display a Message Based on a Traffic Light Color

Problem Statement

Create a PHP program that stores a traffic light color and displays the appropriate instruction:

  • Red: Stop
  • Yellow: Get Ready
  • Green: Go
  • Any other color: Invalid traffic light color

Use a switch statement.

PHP Solution

<?php
$lightColor = "green";

switch ($lightColor) {
    case "red":
        echo "Stop";
        break;

    case "yellow":
        echo "Get Ready";
        break;

    case "green":
        echo "Go";
        break;

    default:
        echo "Invalid traffic light color";
}
?>

Sample Output

Go

Explanation

The switch statement compares $lightColor against the listed color values. Since the variable contains "green", the program displays Go.

String comparisons in these cases are case-sensitive. For example, "green" and "Green" are different strings. You can normalize user input with functions such as strtolower() if you want to accept different letter cases.

Concepts Covered

  • Switching on string values
  • case statements
  • break statement
  • Default handling
  • Case-sensitive string comparisons

Question 4: Calculate a Discount Based on Customer Type

Problem Statement

A shop offers different discounts based on customer type:

  • Regular customer: 5%
  • Silver customer: 10%
  • Gold customer: 15%
  • Platinum customer: 20%

Write a PHP program that uses a switch statement to calculate the discount and final bill amount.

PHP Solution

<?php
$customerType = "Gold";
$billAmount = 2000;
$discountRate = 0;

switch ($customerType) {
    case "Regular":
        $discountRate = 5;
        break;

    case "Silver":
        $discountRate = 10;
        break;

    case "Gold":
        $discountRate = 15;
        break;

    case "Platinum":
        $discountRate = 20;
        break;

    default:
        echo "Invalid customer type";
        exit;
}

$discountAmount = ($billAmount * $discountRate) / 100;
$finalAmount = $billAmount - $discountAmount;

echo "Customer Type: " . $customerType . "\n";
echo "Bill Amount: " . $billAmount . "\n";
echo "Discount: " . $discountAmount . "\n";
echo "Final Amount: " . $finalAmount;
?>

Sample Output

Customer Type: Gold
Bill Amount: 2000
Discount: 300
Final Amount: 1700

Explanation

The switch statement assigns a discount percentage according to the customer type. A Gold customer receives a 15% discount.

The program calculates the discount amount by multiplying the bill by the discount rate and dividing by 100. It then subtracts the discount from the original bill.

The exit statement stops the program if the customer type is invalid.

Concepts Covered

  • switch statement
  • Customer categories
  • Percentage calculations
  • Variables and arithmetic
  • Invalid input handling

Question 5: Check Login Details Using Nested If Statements

Problem Statement

Write a PHP program that checks a user’s username and password. If the username is correct, check the password. Display a success message only when both are correct.

Use nested if statements.

PHP Solution

<?php
$username = "admin";
$password = "admin123";

$enteredUsername = "admin";
$enteredPassword = "admin123";

if ($enteredUsername == $username) {
    if ($enteredPassword == $password) {
        echo "Login successful";
    } else {
        echo "Incorrect password";
    }
} else {
    echo "Incorrect username";
}
?>

Sample Output

Login successful

Explanation

The first if statement checks whether the entered username matches the stored username.

Only when the username is correct does PHP enter the first block and check the password using another if statement. This second condition is nested inside the first one.

If either value is incorrect, the program displays the corresponding message.

Note: This is a learning example. Real applications should store passwords securely using password hashing and verify them with PHP’s password functions rather than comparing plain-text passwords.

Concepts Covered

  • Nested if statements
  • Nested else blocks
  • String comparison
  • Multiple condition checks
  • Login validation basics

Question 6: Check Student Eligibility for an Exam

Problem Statement

A student is eligible to sit for an exam only if their attendance is at least 75%. If attendance is sufficient, check whether the student has paid the examination fee. Display the appropriate result using nested if statements.

PHP Solution

<?php
$attendance = 82;
$feePaid = true;

if ($attendance >= 75) {
    if ($feePaid == true) {
        echo "Student is eligible for the exam";
    } else {
        echo "Please pay the examination fee";
    }
} else {
    echo "Student is not eligible due to low attendance";
}
?>

Sample Output

Student is eligible for the exam

Explanation

The outer if statement checks whether attendance is at least 75%. If this condition is true, the inner if checks whether the examination fee has been paid.

The student is eligible only when both conditions are satisfied. If attendance is below 75%, PHP executes the outer else block without checking the fee condition.

Concepts Covered

  • Nested if statements
  • Comparison operators
  • Boolean values
  • Attendance validation
  • Multiple eligibility conditions

Question 7: Check Employee Bonus Eligibility Using Nested If

Problem Statement

A company considers employees for a bonus if their performance rating is at least 4 out of 5. Employees who meet this requirement receive a bonus only if they have completed at least two years of service.

Write a PHP program using nested if statements.

PHP Solution

<?php
$performanceRating = 4.5;
$yearsOfService = 3;

if ($performanceRating >= 4) {
    if ($yearsOfService >= 2) {
        echo "Employee is eligible for a bonus";
    } else {
        echo "Performance is good, but service period is insufficient";
    }
} else {
    echo "Employee does not meet the performance requirement";
}
?>

Sample Output

Employee is eligible for a bonus

Explanation

The outer condition checks the employee’s performance rating. If the rating is at least 4, PHP checks the employee’s years of service through the nested if statement.

The employee qualifies only when both conditions are satisfied. If the performance rating is too low, the service period is not checked.

Concepts Covered

  • Nested conditions
  • Comparison operators
  • Employee eligibility rules
  • Numeric variables
  • Business logic

Question 8: Determine a Product Category Using Switch and Nested If

Problem Statement

A store classifies products as Electronics, Clothing, or Grocery. Use a switch statement to identify the product category. For Electronics, use a nested if statement to check whether the price is at least 10,000 and display a suitable message.

PHP Solution

<?php
$productCategory = "Electronics";
$productPrice = 15000;

switch ($productCategory) {
    case "Electronics":
        if ($productPrice >= 10000) {
            echo "Premium electronic product";
        } else {
            echo "Standard electronic product";
        }
        break;

    case "Clothing":
        echo "Clothing product";
        break;

    case "Grocery":
        echo "Grocery product";
        break;

    default:
        echo "Unknown product category";
}
?>

Sample Output

Premium electronic product

Explanation

The switch statement first checks the product category. When the category is Electronics, PHP executes the corresponding case.

Inside that case, a nested if statement checks the price. Since the price is 15,000, which is at least 10,000, the program displays Premium electronic product.

For Clothing and Grocery, the program displays the category message without checking the price.

Concepts Covered

  • Combining switch and nested if
  • Product categorization
  • Price comparison
  • Conditional program flow
  • Business rules

Question 9: Create a Menu-Driven Program Using Switch

Problem Statement

Create a simple menu-driven PHP program using a switch statement. The menu should allow a user to select one of the following options:

  1. Display a welcome message
  2. Display the current PHP version
  3. Display a farewell message

Use a variable to simulate the selected menu option.

PHP Solution

<?php
$choice = 2;

switch ($choice) {
    case 1:
        echo "Welcome to PHP programming";
        break;

    case 2:
        echo "PHP Version: " . PHP_VERSION;
        break;

    case 3:
        echo "Thank you for using this program";
        break;

    default:
        echo "Invalid menu option";
}
?>

Sample Output

The exact version number depends on the PHP environment. For example:

PHP Version: 8.3.0

Explanation

The variable $choice represents the user’s selected menu option. In this example, its value is 2, so the program displays the PHP version using the built-in PHP_VERSION constant.

In a command-line or web application, you could obtain the choice from user input or a form. This example uses a fixed value to focus on the switch statement.

Concepts Covered

  • Menu-driven program logic
  • switch, case, and default
  • PHP built-in constants
  • Selection-based execution
  • Basic program design

Question 10: Check Loan Eligibility Using Switch and Nested If

Problem Statement

Create a PHP program that checks a person’s loan eligibility based on employment type and monthly income.

Use these rules:

  • Salaried employees must earn at least ₹25,000 per month.
  • Self-employed applicants must earn at least ₹40,000 per month.
  • If the applicant meets the income requirement, check whether their credit score is at least 700.
  • Other employment types are not supported by this example.

Use a switch statement for employment type and nested if statements for the eligibility checks.

PHP Solution

<?php
$employmentType = "Salaried";
$monthlyIncome = 35000;
$creditScore = 750;

switch ($employmentType) {
    case "Salaried":
        if ($monthlyIncome >= 25000) {
            if ($creditScore >= 700) {
                echo "Applicant meets the example loan eligibility rules";
            } else {
                echo "Credit score is below the required level";
            }
        } else {
            echo "Monthly income is below the required level";
        }
        break;

    case "Self-employed":
        if ($monthlyIncome >= 40000) {
            if ($creditScore >= 700) {
                echo "Applicant meets the example loan eligibility rules";
            } else {
                echo "Credit score is below the required level";
            }
        } else {
            echo "Monthly income is below the required level";
        }
        break;

    default:
        echo "Employment type is not supported";
}
?>

Sample Output

Applicant meets the example loan eligibility rules

Explanation

The switch statement selects the income requirement based on the applicant’s employment type.

For a Salaried applicant, the program checks whether the monthly income is at least ₹25,000. If it is, another nested if checks whether the credit score is at least 700.

The applicant in this example meets both conditions. These rules are for programming practice only and do not represent the actual eligibility criteria of any bank or lender.

Concepts Covered

  • switch statement
  • Nested if statements
  • Income and credit score comparisons
  • Multiple eligibility rules
  • Practical conditional logic

Key Takeaways

  • A switch statement selects a code block based on the value of an expression.
  • The case keyword defines a possible matching value.
  • The break statement prevents execution from continuing into subsequent cases.
  • The default block handles values that do not match any case.
  • A nested if statement places one conditional statement inside another.
  • Nested conditions are useful when one check should happen only after another condition is satisfied.
  • You can combine switch and nested if statements to solve more complex problems.
  • Always handle invalid input and important edge cases in your programs.
  • For larger programs, consider whether a simpler condition or a separate function would make the code easier to maintain.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. What is a switch statement in PHP?

A switch statement selects one block of code from several alternatives by comparing an expression with different case values.

2. What is a nested if statement in PHP?

A nested if statement is an if statement placed inside another if or else block. It allows a program to check additional conditions when required.

3. What is the purpose of break in a switch statement?

The break statement exits the current switch block after a matching case has executed. Without it, PHP can continue executing the following cases.

4. What does default do in a switch statement?

The default block runs when none of the defined cases matches the switch expression. It is useful for handling unexpected or invalid values.

5. Can we use an if statement inside a switch statement?

Yes. You can use an if, if-else, or nested if statement inside a case block to check additional conditions.

6. Can we use a switch statement inside an if statement?

Yes. A switch statement can be placed inside an if or else block whenever the program needs to make another selection.

7. What is the difference between switch and if-else?

A switch statement is convenient when one expression is compared against several possible values. An if-else structure is more flexible for ranges, combined conditions, and comparisons such as >=, <=, and logical expressions.

8. Can nested if statements have multiple levels?

Yes. You can place several conditional statements inside one another. However, too many levels can make code difficult to read, so consider simplifying the logic or using separate functions.

9. Is the default case compulsory in PHP switch statements?

No. The default case is optional. However, it is often useful because it allows the program to handle unexpected values.

10. When should I use switch instead of nested if?

Use switch when one expression needs to be matched against several specific values. Use nested if statements when one condition must be checked before another or when the rules involve ranges and complex comparisons.

Written by Shubhranshu Shekhar, who has trained 20000+ students in coding.

Related Posts

Scroll to Top