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"The `break` statement terminates the loop, while `continue` skips the current iteration and proceeds with the next."

What Are `break` and `continue` Statements?

These statements alter the normal flow of loop execution:

• break - Immediately exits a loop or switch statement.
• continue - Skips the current iteration and jumps to the next loop cycle.

Comparison of `break` and `continue`

Examples of `break` Statement

1. Using `break` in a `for` Loop

#include <stdio.h>

int main() {
for (int i = 1; i <= 10; i++) {
	if (i == 5) {
		break; // Exit the loop when i == 5
	}
	printf("%d ", i);
}
return 0;
}

2. Using `break` in a `while` Loop

#include <stdio.h>

int main() {
int i = 1;
while (i <= 10) {
	if (i == 6) {
		break; // Exit the loop when i == 6
	}
	printf("%d ", i);
	i++;
}
return 0;
}

3. Using `break` in a `switch` Statement

#include <stdio.h>

int main() {
int choice = 2;

switch (choice) {
	case 1:
		printf("Choice is 1\n");
		break;
	case 2:
		printf("Choice is 2\n");
		break;
	case 3:
		printf("Choice is 3\n");
		break;
	default:
		printf("Invalid choice\n");
}
return 0;
}

Examples of `continue` Statement

1. Using `continue` in a `for` Loop

#include <stdio.h>

int main() {
for (int i = 1; i <= 10; i++) {
	if (i % 2 == 0) {
		continue; // Skip even numbers
	}
	printf("%d ", i);
}
return 0;
}

2. Using `continue` in a `while` Loop

#include <stdio.h>

int main() {
int i = 0;
while (i < 10) {
	i++;
	if (i % 2 == 0) {
		continue; // Skip even numbers
	}
	printf("%d ", i);
}
return 0;
}

Important Notes on `break` and `continue`

• `break`: Completely exits the loop or `switch` block.
• `continue`: Skips the rest of the current iteration and moves to the next cycle.
• Use in Nested Loops: `break` exits the **inner loop** only, while `continue` affects only the **current loop iteration**.

Best Practices for Using `break` and `continue`

• Use `break` to **exit loops early** when a condition is met.
• Use `continue` to **skip unwanted iterations** without stopping the loop.
• Be cautious while using `continue` inside **nested loops** to avoid unexpected behavior.

Example: Nested Loops with `break` and `continue`

#include <stdio.h>

int main() {
for (int i = 1; i <= 3; i++) {
	for (int j = 1; j <= 3; j++) {
		if (j == 2) {
			continue; // Skip printing when j == 2
		}
		printf("(%d, %d) ", i, j);
	}
	printf("\n");
}
return 0;
}

Conclusion

The `break` and `continue` statements provide greater control over loop execution in C. Understanding their behavior helps write more efficient programs! 🚀

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