{"id":1442,"date":"2017-11-09T16:48:48","date_gmt":"2017-11-09T09:48:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/oracletutorial.com\/?page_id=1442"},"modified":"2025-05-24T06:20:00","modified_gmt":"2025-05-24T13:20:00","slug":"plsql-while-loop","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.oracletutorial.com\/plsql-tutorial\/plsql-while-loop\/","title":{"rendered":"PL\/SQL WHILE Loop"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Summary<\/strong>: In this tutorial, you will learn about PL\/SQL WHILE<\/code> loop statement to execute a sequence of statements as long as a specified condition is TRUE<\/code>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Introduction to PL\/SQL WHILE loop statement #<\/a><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

PL\/SQL WHILE<\/code> loop is a control structure that repeatedly executes a code block<\/a> if a specific condition remains true.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here’s the syntax for the WHILE<\/code> loop statement:<\/p>\n\n\n

WHILE<\/span> condition\nLOOP<\/span>\n    statements;\nEND<\/span> LOOP<\/span>;<\/code><\/span>Code language:<\/span> PostgreSQL SQL dialect and PL\/pgSQL<\/span> (<\/span>pgsql<\/span>)<\/span><\/small><\/pre>\n\n\n
In this syntax, the condition is a Boolean expression that evaluates to TRUE<\/code>, FALSE<\/code> or NULL<\/code>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The WHILE<\/code> loop statement continues to execute the statements<\/code> between the LOOP<\/code> and END<\/code> LOOP<\/code> as long as the condition<\/code> evaluates to TRUE<\/code>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
PL\/SQL evaluates the condition in the WHILE<\/code> clause before each loop iteration. If the condition is TRUE<\/code>, then the loop body executes. If the condition is FALSE<\/code> or NULL<\/code>, the loop terminates.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
To terminate the loop prematurely, you use an EXIT<\/code> or EXIT WHEN<\/code> statement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
PL\/SQL WHILE loop examples #<\/a><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Let’s take some examples of using the WHILE<\/code> loop statement to see how it works.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Basic PL\/SQL WHILE loop example #<\/a><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
The following example uses a WHILE<\/code> loop statement to display five numbers from 1 to 5:<\/p>\n\n\n
SET<\/span> SERVEROUTPUT ON<\/span>;\n\nDECLARE<\/span>\n  n_counter NUMBER := 1<\/span>;\nBEGIN<\/span>\n  WHILE<\/span> n_counter <= 5<\/span>\n  LOOP<\/span>\n    DBMS_OUTPUT.PUT_LINE( 'Counter : '<\/span> || n_counter );\n    n_counter := n_counter + 1<\/span>;\n  END<\/span> LOOP<\/span>;\nEND<\/span>;<\/code><\/span>Code language:<\/span> PostgreSQL SQL dialect and PL\/pgSQL<\/span> (<\/span>pgsql<\/span>)<\/span><\/small><\/pre>\n\n\n
Output:<\/p>\n\n\n
Counter : 1<\/span>\nCounter : 2<\/span>\nCounter : 3<\/span>\nCounter : 4<\/span>\nCounter : 5<\/span><\/code><\/span>Code language:<\/span> PostgreSQL SQL dialect and PL\/pgSQL<\/span> (<\/span>pgsql<\/span>)<\/span><\/small><\/pre>\n\n\n
In this example:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If the condition is FALSE<\/code> before entering the loop, the WHILE<\/code> loop does not execute at all. This behavior is different from the LOOP<\/a><\/code> statement whose loop body always executes once.<\/p>\n\n\n\n