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Java / Re: Java Loop Explained
« on: November 25, 2009, 05:41:18 pm »
In order to make this java loop topic more "complete" let's add the while, do while, and for each loop, break, and continue examples here as well =P
WHILE LOOP
Just like in the example above, this piece of code will print every number from 1 to 5. The thing about the While loop is that it is used mainly for boolean expressions (such as the above where the code will only execute as long as i is less than or equal to 5) but can also be used as follows:
Now in this example, we check whether or not I is greater than or equal to 5. When it is equal to 5 we set a to false so that the loop will terminate on the next execution. Now let's take a look at do while.
DO WHILE
The point of a do while is to execute a while loop AT LEAST ONCE regardless of condition, because conditions are checked after the loops execution. This is generally useful when you receive user input that will determine the execution of a loop, but regardless of their input you would want the loop to run at least once. Here's an example of the do while loop, using the exact same example as our previous while loop.
Notice how the while part is the last bit of the loop, this is why a would not have to be initialized until it becomes false.
FOR EACH
FOR EACH loops are used for iterating within arrays, it really makes it a lot easier, and more efficient, than using a regular for loop. Here is an example with an array of length 4, and you want to print each individual part of the array. I will show how it would look in your regular for loop, then in a foreach loop.
for:
foreach:
you tell me which looks better
BREAK AND CONTINUE
These two commands are quite crucial to loops, which is why I added them in here.
the "break" command breaks out of a loop, while the continue command skips the rest of the loop, and begins the iteration from the next step. For example, let's say you have a loop where you need the loop to terminate if a certain condition is met. All you would do is have an if statement using the break command and you'd be set! Example:
as for the continue command would be the same, only it would be if you find something where you want the rest of the loop to be ignored, and then re-iterate as normal from the next iteration of the loop.
Hopefully this guide on loops is more complete for you guys ^^
WHILE LOOP
Code: (java) [Select]
int i = 1;
while(i <= 5){
System.out.println(i);
i++;
}Just like in the example above, this piece of code will print every number from 1 to 5. The thing about the While loop is that it is used mainly for boolean expressions (such as the above where the code will only execute as long as i is less than or equal to 5) but can also be used as follows:
Code: (java) [Select]
boolean a = true;
int i = 1;
while(a){
if(i >= 5)
a = false;
System.out.println(i);
}Now in this example, we check whether or not I is greater than or equal to 5. When it is equal to 5 we set a to false so that the loop will terminate on the next execution. Now let's take a look at do while.
DO WHILE
The point of a do while is to execute a while loop AT LEAST ONCE regardless of condition, because conditions are checked after the loops execution. This is generally useful when you receive user input that will determine the execution of a loop, but regardless of their input you would want the loop to run at least once. Here's an example of the do while loop, using the exact same example as our previous while loop.
Code: (java) [Select]
boolean a;
int i = 1;
do{
if(i >= 5)
a = false;
System.out.println(i);
}while(a)Notice how the while part is the last bit of the loop, this is why a would not have to be initialized until it becomes false.
FOR EACH
FOR EACH loops are used for iterating within arrays, it really makes it a lot easier, and more efficient, than using a regular for loop. Here is an example with an array of length 4, and you want to print each individual part of the array. I will show how it would look in your regular for loop, then in a foreach loop.
for:
Code: (java) [Select]
String array[] = {"Hi", "There", "My", "Son"}
for(int i = 0; i<array.length; i++)
System.out.print(array[i]);foreach:
Code: (java) [Select]
String array[] = {"Hi", "There", "My", "Son"}
foreach(String x : array)
System.out.print(x);you tell me which looks better
BREAK AND CONTINUE
These two commands are quite crucial to loops, which is why I added them in here.
the "break" command breaks out of a loop, while the continue command skips the rest of the loop, and begins the iteration from the next step. For example, let's say you have a loop where you need the loop to terminate if a certain condition is met. All you would do is have an if statement using the break command and you'd be set! Example:
Code: (java) [Select]
if(condition)
break;as for the continue command would be the same, only it would be if you find something where you want the rest of the loop to be ignored, and then re-iterate as normal from the next iteration of the loop.
Code: (java) [Select]
if(condition)
continue;Hopefully this guide on loops is more complete for you guys ^^