What is the difference between flatmap and switchmap in RxJava?

Question

The rxjava doc definition of switchmap is rather vague and it links to the same page as flatmap. What is the difference between the two operators?

Answer 1

If you´re looking for an example code

/**
 * We switch from original item to a new observable just using switchMap.
 * It´s a way to replace the Observable instead just the item as map does
 * Emitted:Person{name='Pablo', age=0, sex='no_sex'}
 */
@Test
public void testSwitchMap() {
    Observable.just(new Person("Pablo", 34, "male"))
              .switchMap(person -> Observable.just(new Person("Pablo", 0, "no_sex")))
              .subscribe(System.out::println);

}

You can see more examples here https://github.com/politrons/reactive