The break and continue statements in LOOPS

1. First, recall the break statement was used in the switch statement: click here

   Effect: the break statement will terminate the switch statement.

2. The break statement can also be use in while loops, for loops and do loops.

   Effect: the break statement will cause the loop statement to terminate immediately.

   Example: for loop with a break statement int i; for (i = 1; i <= 20; i = i + 1) { if (i == 12) break; System.out.print (num); }

   Output:   1   2   3   4   5   6   7   8   9   10   11

   The for loop will run i from 1 to 12. When i = 12, the break statement will cause the for loop to end immediately.

   DEMO program that uses the break statement in a loop (test if a number is prime): click here

   Same DEMO program that DO NOT use the break statement in the loop: click here

    

3. The continue statement can only be use inside while loops, for loops and do loops.

   Effect: the break statement will cause the loop statement to start a NEW interation immediately

   Example: for loop with a continue statement int i; for (i = 1; i <= 20; i = i + 1) { if (i == 12) continue; System.out.println ("num is " + num); }

   Output:   1   2   3   4   5   6   7   8   9   10   11   13   14   15   16   17   18   19   20

   The for loop will run i from 1 to 20. When i = 12, the continue statement will cause the for loop to start a new iteration, skipping the print statement.

   DEMO program that uses the continue statement in a loop (test if a number is perfect): click here

   Same DEMO program that DO NOT use the continue statement in the loop: click here