JavaScript Break and Continue Statements

Break Statement

The break statement is used to terminate the execution of a loop prematurely. It is commonly used to exit a loop when a certain condition is met.

Syntax:

for (let i = 0; i < 10; i++) {
  // Code block

  if (/* some condition */) {
    break; // Exit the loop if the condition is true
  }
}

The break statement can be used with for, while, and do...while loops.

Why it is Used:

Conditional Exit: Allows the loop to exit early based on a specified condition.

Example:

for (let i = 0; i < 10; i++) {
  console.log(i);

  if (i === 5) {
    break; // Exit the loop when i reaches 5
  }
}

Continue Statement

The continue statement is used to skip the rest of the code inside a loop for the current iteration and proceed to the next iteration.

Syntax:

for (let i = 0; i < 10; i++) {
  // Code block

  if (/* some condition */) {
    continue; // Skip the rest of the code for this iteration
  }
  // Code that will be skipped if the condition is true
}

The continue statement can be used with for, while, and do...while loops.

Why it is Used:

Skip Current Iteration: Allows skipping the execution of the remaining code in the loop for the current iteration.

Example:

for (let i = 0; i < 10; i++) {
  if (i % 2 === 0) {
    continue; // Skip even numbers
  }

  console.log(i);
}

 

Summary

• The break statement is used to exit a loop prematurely when a certain condition is met.
• The continue statement is used to skip the rest of the code inside a loop for the current iteration and proceed to the next iteration.
• Both statements provide flexibility and control within loops to tailor the flow of execution based on specific conditions.