Rust Match

match compares a value against a list of patterns and runs the code for whichever one fits. Think of it as a more powerful version of a switch statement, if you’ve used one before — and if you haven’t, it’s still one of the more useful patterns to learn early.

Basic match

fn main() {
    let day = 3;

    match day {
        1 => println!("Monday"),
        2 => println!("Tuesday"),
        3 => println!("Wednesday"),
        4 => println!("Thursday"),
        5 => println!("Friday"),
        _ => println!("Weekend"),
    }
}

Output:

Wednesday

▶ Try it Yourself

The _ is a catch-all — it matches anything not listed above it. match requires every possible value to be handled, so _ is usually there to cover “everything else.”

Note

That “must handle every case” rule isn’t just a style preference — Rust’s compiler actually enforces it. Forget a case (and have no _), and your code won’t compile. This is one of the ways Rust prevents bugs where you forgot to handle some possibility.

Matching multiple values at once

You can group several values into one arm using |:

fn main() {
    let day = 6;

    match day {
        1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 => println!("Weekday"),
        6 | 7 => println!("Weekend"),
        _ => println!("Not a valid day"),
    }
}

▶ Try it Yourself

Matching a range

For numbers, you can match a whole range with ..=:

fn main() {
    let score = 85;

    match score {
        90..=100 => println!("A"),
        75..=89 => println!("B"),
        60..=74 => println!("C"),
        _ => println!("F"),
    }
}

▶ Try it Yourself

match as an expression

Just like if, match can produce a value:

fn main() {
    let day = 6;

    let kind = match day {
        1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 => "weekday",
        6 | 7 => "weekend",
        _ => "unknown",
    };

    println!("{kind}");
}

▶ Try it Yourself

match vs if/else

Either works for simple true/false checks, but match starts to win once you have more than two or three possibilities — it reads better than a long chain of else if, and the compiler checks you’ve covered every case. if/else is still the right tool for a single yes/no condition.

Recap

• match compares a value against patterns and runs the matching arm.
• Every possible value must be handled — use _ as a catch-all.
• Combine values with |, or match a range with ..=.
• match, like if, can be used as an expression to produce a value.

Quick check

Quick check

1. What does the _ pattern do in a match expression?

It matches only the value zeroIt skips the match entirelyIt's a catch-all that matches anything not listed above it

2. What happens if a match expression doesn't handle every possible value and has no _ arm?

The code won't compileIt compiles but panics at runtime on unmatched inputRust silently does nothing for unmatched cases

3. How do you match several values in one arm, like 1, 2, or 3?

1, 2, 3 =>1 | 2 | 3 =>1..3 =>

Score: 0 / 3

Read more

• The match Control Flow Construct — The Rust Book