Java Keywords (Part XVII): The default keyword
This article summarize the use of the keyword default . I suggest you review Java Keywords (Part V): Classes vs Interfaces and Java Keywords (Part IX): Switch Statements before proceeding. Java keyword list abstract continue for new switch assert default goto * package synchronized boolean do if private this break double implements protected throw byte else import public throws case enum instanceof return transient catch extends int short try char final interface static void class finally long strictfp volatile const * float native super while Keyword marked with an asterisk (*) are keywords that, although valid, are not used by programmers. Up until Java 8 (released in March, 2014), the default keyword had a single purpose, which was to indicate the default case in a switch statement. To illustrate quickly String color = "red"; switch(color) { case "red": case