# Extra Clang Tools 21.1.8 documentation

## clang-tidy - hicpp-multiway-paths-covered

# hicpp-multiway-paths-covered

This check discovers situations where code paths are not fully-covered. It furthermore suggests using `if` instead of `switch` if the code will be more clear. The rule 6.1.2 and rule 6.1.4 of the High Integrity C++ Coding Standard are enforced.

`if-else if` chains that miss a final `else` branch might lead to unexpected program execution and be the result of a logical error. If the missing `else` branch is intended you can leave it empty with a clarifying comment. This warning can be noisy on some code bases, so it is disabled by default.

    void f1() {
      int i = determineTheNumber();

       if(i > 0) {
         // Some Calculation
       } else if (i < 0) {
         // Precondition violated or something else.
       }
       // ...
    }

Similar arguments hold for `switch` statements which do not cover all possible code paths.

    // The missing default branch might be a logical error. It can be kept empty
    // if there is nothing to do, making it explicit.
    void f2(int i) {
      switch (i) {
      case 0: // something
        break;
      case 1: // something else
        break;
      }
      // All other numbers?
    }

    // Violates this rule as well, but already emits a compiler warning (-Wswitch).
    enum Color { Red, Green, Blue, Yellow };
    void f3(enum Color c) {
      switch (c) {
      case Red: // We can't drive for now.
        break;
      case Green:  // We are allowed to drive.
        break;
      }
      // Other cases missing
    }

The rule 6.1.4 requires every `switch` statement to have at least two `case` labels other than a default label. Otherwise, the `switch` could be better expressed with an `if` statement. Degenerated `switch` statements without any labels are caught as well.

    // Degenerated switch that could be better written as `if`
    int i = 42;
    switch(i) {
      case 1: // do something here
      default: // do something else here
    }

    // Should rather be the following:
    if (i == 1) {
      // do something here
    }
    else {
      // do something here
    }

    // A completely degenerated switch will be diagnosed.
    int i = 42;
    switch(i) {}

## Options

WarnOnMissingElse

  Boolean flag that activates a warning for missing `else` branches. Default is false.