Control Structures and Loops in C: Mastering for, while, and do-while Loops

C Programming @ Freshers.in

Loops are essential constructs in C programming, enabling you to execute a block of code repeatedly. In this comprehensive article, we’ll delve into loops in C: for, while, and do-while. You’ll gain a deep understanding of how to use these control structures effectively with real-world examples and output demonstrations, allowing you to write efficient and flexible C programs. Loops (for, while, and do-while) are fundamental constructs in C programming, allowing you to execute code repeatedly. In this article, we’ve explored these loops with real-world examples and output demonstrations, giving you a solid foundation for writing efficient and flexible C programs.

The for Loop

The for loop is widely used in C for executing a block of code a specified number of times. It consists of three parts: initialization, condition, and increment/decrement.

#include <stdio.h>
int main() {
    for (int i = 1; i <= 5; i++) {
        printf("Iteration %d\n", i);
    }
    return 0;
}

Output:

Iteration 1
Iteration 2
Iteration 3
Iteration 4
Iteration 5

The while Loop

The while loop repeatedly executes a block of code as long as a specified condition remains true.

#include <stdio.h>
int main() {
    int count = 1;
    while (count <= 5) {
        printf("Iteration %d\n", count);
        count++;
    }
    return 0;
}

Output:

Iteration 1
Iteration 2
Iteration 3
Iteration 4
Iteration 5

The do-while Loop

The do-while loop is similar to the while loop, but it guarantees that the code block is executed at least once before checking the condition.

#include <stdio.h>
int main() {
    int count = 1;
    do {
        printf("Iteration %d\n", count);
        count++;
    } while (count <= 5);
    return 0;
}

Output:

Iteration 1
Iteration 2
Iteration 3
Iteration 4
Iteration 5

Loop Control Statements

The break Statement

The break statement is used to exit a loop prematurely based on a certain condition.

#include <stdio.h>
int main() {
    for (int i = 1; i <= 10; i++) {
        if (i == 6) {
            break;  // Exit the loop when i equals 6
        }
        printf("Iteration %d\n", i);
    }
    return 0;
}

Output:

Iteration 1
Iteration 2
Iteration 3
Iteration 4
Iteration 5

The continue Statement

The continue statement is used to skip the current iteration of a loop based on a certain condition and proceed to the next iteration.

#include <stdio.h>
int main() {
    for (int i = 1; i <= 5; i++) {
        if (i == 3) {
            continue;  // Skip iteration when i equals 3
        }
        printf("Iteration %d\n", i);
    }
    return 0;
}

Output:

Iteration 1
Iteration 2
Iteration 4
Iteration 5
Author: user