---
title: "2.8 Fall-Through in switch"
description: "When a `case` block does not end with `break`, execution continues into the statements of the next `case` label. This behavior is called **fall-through**. ``` #include int main() { int number = 1; switch (number) { case 1: printf(\"One\\n\"); case…"
url: "https://edcret.in/docs/c-programming/control-flow/2-8-fall-through-in-switch/"
updated: "2026-09-06"
category: C Programming / Control Flow
---

# 2.8 Fall-Through in switch

When a `case` block does not end with `break`, execution continues into the statements of the next `case` label. This behavior is called **fall-through**.

```
#include <stdio.h>

int main()
{
    int number = 1;

    switch (number)
    {
        case 1:
            printf("One\n");

        case 2:
            printf("Two\n");

        case 3:
            printf("Three\n");
            break;

        default:
            printf("Other number\n");
    }

    return 0;
}
```

### Example Output

```
One
Two
Three
```

### Explanation

`number` contains `1`, so execution begins at:

```
case 1:
```

After printing `One`, there is no `break` statement. Execution therefore continues into `case 2`:

```
case 2:
    printf("Two\n");
```

There is still no `break`, so execution continues into `case 3` and prints `Three`.

The `break` in `case 3` terminates the `switch`.

A `case` label does not automatically stop execution after its statements. `break` is required when execution should leave the `switch` after that case.