The Implementation of Case Statements in Pascal

This paper examines the probable implementations of the case statement in Pascal, and analyses their consequences. A particular implementation for the Burroughs B6700/7700 series illustrates the necessary investigations. The techniques, although not new, are brought together to serve as a stimulus to improving the implementation of case‐statements in other compilers for Pascal, and to provide ideas for implementors. The architectural limitations of even high‐level computers in implementing the case statement are briefly discussed. Copyright © 1981 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd