c - Is this a switch statement smell? -

i looking through someone's c code, , discovered didn't know possible. inside of cases, switch variable modified, intention another case executed after break.

switch (variable) {     case 1:         some_code();         variable = 3;         break;      case 2:         more_code();         variable = 5;         break;      case 3:         more_code();         variable = 5;         break;      case 4:         my_code();         break;      case 5:         final_code();         break;  } 

the code seems working author intended. lucky, or guaranteed behaviour in c? assumed break statement cause execution jump directly after switch statement. wouldn't have expected continue testing every other case.

this common technique state machine type code. doesn't jump automatically imagine. switch statement has put inside while loop. in case, imagine loop like:

while (!done) {     done = (variable == 5);     switch (variable) {     /*...*/     } } 

alternatively, switch statement inside function body, , function called loop until done condition met.