Java Break and Continue Statements -

Java Break and Continue Statements

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Break and Continue are control statements in Java that provide developers with greater control over loop execution. These statements enhance code efficiency by skipping or halting specific iterations as needed.

Definition

  1. Break Statement:
    The break statement terminates the loop or switch statement it is used in, and control transfers to the next statement outside the loop or switch block.
  2. Continue Statement:
    The continue statement skips the remaining code in the current loop iteration and moves directly to the next iteration of the loop.

Break Statement in Java

The break statement is commonly used to:

  • Exit a loop when a certain condition is met.
  • Stop the execution of a switch case block.

Syntax:

break;

Example 1: Using Break in a Loop

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

Output:

Number: 1  
Number: 2  
Number: 3  
Number: 4  
Loop exited.

Continue Statement in Java

The continue statement is used to:

  • Skip certain iterations of a loop without exiting the loop itself.

Syntax:

continue;

Example 2: Using Continue in a Loop

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

Output:

Odd Number: 1  
Odd Number: 3  
Odd Number: 5  
Odd Number: 7  
Odd Number: 9

Break and Continue in Nested Loops

Break and continue are especially useful in nested loops for controlling the flow of inner or outer loops.

Example 3: Break in Nested Loops

public class NestedBreakExample {
    public static void main(String[] args) {
        for (int i = 1; i <= 3; i++) {
            for (int j = 1; j <= 3; j++) {
                if (i == j) {
                    break; // Exit the inner loop
                }
                System.out.println("i: " + i + ", j: " + j);
            }
        }
    }
}

Output:

i: 1, j: 2  
i: 1, j: 3  
i: 2, j: 1  
i: 3, j: 1  
i: 3, j: 2

Example 4: Continue in Nested Loops

public class NestedContinueExample {
    public static void main(String[] args) {
        for (int i = 1; i <= 3; i++) {
            for (int j = 1; j <= 3; j++) {
                if (i == j) {
                    continue; // Skip when i equals j
                }
                System.out.println("i: " + i + ", j: " + j);
            }
        }
    }
}

Output:

i: 1, j: 2  
i: 1, j: 3  
i: 2, j: 1  
i: 2, j: 3  
i: 3, j: 1  
i: 3, j: 2

Break vs. Continue

FeatureBreak StatementContinue Statement
FunctionalityTerminates the loop entirelySkips the current iteration
ScopeCan be used in loops and switch statementsOnly used in loops
ImpactExits the enclosing loopProceeds to the next iteration

Practical Use Cases

Use Case 1: Searching in Arrays

Break Example: Stop searching when a value is found.

public class SearchArray {
    public static void main(String[] args) {
        int[] numbers = {1, 2, 3, 4, 5};
        int search = 3;

        for (int num : numbers) {
            if (num == search) {
                System.out.println("Found: " + num);
                break;
            }
        }
    }
}

Use Case 2: Skipping Invalid Data

Continue Example: Skip invalid entries in an array.

public class SkipInvalidData {
    public static void main(String[] args) {
        int[] data = {10, -5, 20, -15, 30};

        for (int num : data) {
            if (num < 0) {
                continue; // Skip negative numbers
            }
            System.out.println("Valid Number: " + num);
        }
    }
}

Performance Considerations

  • Break can reduce unnecessary iterations, improving performance in large datasets.
  • Continue can bypass irrelevant operations, enhancing loop efficiency.

Conclusion

The break and continue statements are powerful tools for controlling loops in Java. By strategically using these statements, you can optimize loop behavior and make your code more efficient. To explore more such practical examples and programming tips, visit Master Coding Science.

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