? Java Loop Control Flow

? Quick Overview

Loop control flow statements in Java allow you to change the normal execution of loops. They help you skip iterations, exit loops early, or control nested loop behavior efficiently.

? Key Concepts

break – exits the loop immediately
continue – skips the current iteration
labeled break – exits an outer loop
labeled continue – continues an outer loop

? Syntax / Theory

Loop control statements are typically used inside for, while, or do-while loops to manage execution flow based on conditions.

? Code Example(s)

? View Code Example

// Using break and continue in a for loop
for(int i = 1; i <= 5; i++) {
    if(i == 3) {
        continue;
    }
    if(i == 5) {
        break;
    }
    System.out.println(i);
}

? View Code Example

// Using labeled break to exit outer loop
outer:
for(int i = 1; i <= 3; i++) {
    for(int j = 1; j <= 3; j++) {
        if(i == 2 && j == 2) {
            break outer;
        }
        System.out.println(i + "," + j);
    }
}

? Live Output / Explanation

The continue statement skips printing when i == 3. The break statement stops the loop completely when i == 5.

Labeled break exits the outer loop directly when the condition is met.

✅ Tips & Best Practices

Use break carefully to avoid unreadable logic
Prefer continue for skipping specific cases
Use labeled loops only when necessary

? Try It Yourself

Modify the loop to skip even numbers
Practice labeled continue in nested loops
Convert a loop with break into a condition-based loop