Beware type switches

This is Reil's heuristic #5.12

Type switches involve changing behaviour based on the object's type. Problems occur when multiple switches occur over the same variable in the same class, since when one is modified, all occurrences may need to be changed.

A possible solution is to replace any type code with a type class or Strategy pattern. See Martin Fowler's example at [Replace Type Code With State/Strategy]

See also

• Switch statements smell
• Riel's heuristics