Java Switch Statement with Strings

Question

Apparently you cant make a switch statement with strings in java. What is the most efficient way to rewrite this code to make it function similar to a swtich statement with strings?
switch (type){
               case "pounds":
                    type = "weight";
                    break;
               case "ounces":
                    type = "weight";
                    break;
               case "grams":
                    type = "weight";
                    break;
               case "fluid ounces":
                    type = "liquid";
                    break;
               case "liters":
                    type = "liquid";
                    break;
               case "gallons":
                    type = "liquid";
                    break;
               case "cups":
                    type = "liquid";
                    break;
               case "teaspoons":
                    type = "liquid";
                    break;
               case "tablespoons":
                    type = "liquid";
                    break;
          }

Answer 1

I'd create a Map somewhere with entries "liquid", "weight", etc.
public class Converter {
    private static Map<String, List<String>> unitMap = new HashMap<String, List<String>>();
    private static String[] LIQUID_UNITS = { "pints", "gallons", "quarts", "millilitres" };
    private static String[] WEIGHT_UNITS = { "pounds", "ounces", "grams" };
    static {
        List<String> liquidUnits = new ArrayList<String>();
        for (int i = 0; i < LIQUID_UNITS.length; i++) liquidUnits.add(LIQUID_UNITS));
unitMap.put("liquid", liquidUnits);
... // other unit types here
public String findUnitType(String unit) {
for (String unitType : unitMap.keySet()) {
List<String> unitList = unitMap.get(unitType);
if (unitList.contains(unit))
return unitType;
return null;
It might not be more "efficient", but it's certainly quite readable, and supports adding new units quite easily. And it's a lot shorter than the series of if/else-ifs that you would have to do otherwise. You'll probably want to include a distinction between imperial/metric units, but maybe you don't need it.
Brian