What performance advantage does a switch statement typically have over multiple if-else statements in JavaScript?
Modern JavaScript engines can often optimize switch statements better than equivalent if-else chains, especially for comparing a single variable against multiple constant values. JavaScript engines like V8 (used in Chrome and Node.js) can implement switch statements using more efficient techniques like jump tables or binary search-based approaches when appropriate, resulting in better performance for many cases. This optimization is particularly noticeable when dealing with many cases (typically more than 3-4 comparisons). However, it's important to note that the actual performance difference depends on various factors including the JavaScript engine, the number of cases, and their distribution, so you should measure performance in your specific context when optimization is critical.