Understanding Java Break and Continue Statements with Examples

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Question:

Introduce Java Break and Continue and give examples

Answer:

break Keyword

Syntax

The break keyword is used to terminate a loop or switch statement prematurely. The basic syntax is as follows:

break; // for loops
break label; // for labeled blocks

Usage

  • Exiting Loops: When break is encountered within a loop (like for, while, or do-while), it immediately terminates the loop, and the control moves to the statement following the loop.
  • Switch Statement: In a switch statement, break is used to exit the case block, preventing the execution from falling through to subsequent cases.

Scenarios

  • When a specific condition is met and you want to stop further iterations of a loop.
  • In a switch statement to prevent fall-through behavior.

Example

public class BreakExample {
    public static void main(String[] args) {
        for (int i = 1; i <= 10; i++) {
            if (i == 5) {
                break; // Exits the loop when i equals 5
            }
            System.out.println(i);
        }
        System.out.println("Loop terminated.");
    }
}

Output:

1
2
3
4
Loop terminated.

continue Keyword

Syntax

The continue keyword is used to skip the current iteration of a loop and proceed to the next iteration. The basic syntax is:

continue; // for loops
continue label; // for labeled blocks

Usage

  • Skipping Iterations: When continue is encountered, the remaining code in the loop body is skipped, and control jumps to the next iteration of the loop.

Scenarios

  • When you want to skip certain iterations based on a condition, allowing the loop to continue running.

Example

public class ContinueExample {
    public static void main(String[] args) {
        for (int i = 1; i <= 10; i++) {
            if (i % 2 == 0) {
                continue; // Skips the even numbers
            }
            System.out.println(i);
        }
        System.out.println("Loop completed.");
    }
}

Output:

1
3
5
7
9
Loop completed.

Comparison of break and continue

Similarities

  • Both are control flow statements that alter the normal execution of loops.
  • Both can be used with labeled loops, allowing control over nested loops.

Differences

  • Functionality:
    • break terminates the loop entirely, while continue skips the current iteration and proceeds with the next one.
  • Use Cases:
    • Use break when you want to exit a loop based on a condition. Use continue when you want to skip specific iterations but continue looping.
  • Control Flow:
    • After break, the program execution continues with the next statement after the loop. After continue, execution jumps to the loop's next iteration.

Conclusion

In summary, break and continue are essential keywords in Java for controlling loop execution. Understanding their syntax, usage, and scenarios helps in writing effective and efficient code. Use break to exit loops and continue to skip iterations based on conditions, enhancing the control flow in your programs.

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