The for loop
The for loop loops from one number to another number and increases by a specified value
each time.
The for loop uses the following structure:
for (Start value; continue or end condition; increase value)
statement;
Look at the example below:
#include<stdio.h>
int main()
{
int i;
for (i = 0; i < 10; i++)
{
printf ("Hello\n");
printf ("World\n");
}
return 0;
}
Note: A single instruction can be placed behind the for loop without the curly brackets.
Note: For those who dont know printf or need to know more about printf format specifiers,
then first a look at our printf C language tutorial.
Lets look at the for loop from the example: We first start by setting the variable i to 0. This
is where we start to count. Then we say that the for loop must run if the counter i is smaller
then ten. Last we say that every cycle i must be increased by one (i++).
In the example we used i++ which is the same as using i = i + 1. This is called incrementing.
The instruction i++ adds 1 to i. If you want to subtract 1 from i you can use i--. It is also
possible to use ++i or --i. The difference is is that with ++i (prefix incrementing) the one is
added before the for loop tests if i < 10. With i++ (postfix incrementing) the one is added
after the test i < 10. In case of a for loop this make no difference, but in while loop test it
makes a difference. But before we look at a postfix and prefix increment while loop example,
we first look at the while loop.
The while loop
The while loop can be used if you dont know how many times a loop must run. Here is an
example:
#include<stdio.h>
int main()
{
int counter, howmuch;
scanf("%d", &howmuch);
counter = 0;
while ( counter < howmuch)
{
counter++;
printf("%d\n", counter);
}
return 0;
}
Lets take a look at the example: First you must always initialize the counter before the while
loop starts ( counter = 1). Then the while loop will run if the variable counter is smaller then
the variable howmuch. If the input is ten, then 1 through 10 will be printed on the screen.
A last thing you have to remember is to increment the counter inside the loop (counter++).
If you forget this the loop becomes infinitive.
As said before (after the for loop example) it makes a difference if prefix incrementing (++i)
or postfix incrementing (i++) is used with while loop. Take a look at the following postfix and
prefix increment while loop example:
#include<stdio.h>
int main(void) {
int i;
i = 0;
while(i++ < 5) {
printf("%d\n", i);
}
printf("\n");
i = 0;
while(++i < 5) {
printf("%d\n", i);
}
return 0;
}
The output of the postfix and prefix increment example will look like this:
1
2
3
4
5
1
2
3
4
i++ will increment the value of i, but is using the pre-incremented value to test against < 5.
Thats why we get 5 numbers.
++i will increment the value of i, but is using the incremented value to test against < 5.
Thats why we get 4 numbers.
The do while loop
The do while loop is almost the same as the while loop. The do while loop has the
following form:
do
{
do something;
}
while (expression);
Do something first and then test if we have to continue. The result is that the loop always
runs once. (Because the expression test comes afterward). Take a look at an example:
#include<stdio.h>
int main()
{
int counter, howmuch;
scanf("%d", &howmuch);
counter = 0;
do
{
counter++;
printf("%d\n", counter);
}
while ( counter < howmuch);
return 0;
}
Note: There is a semi-colon behind the while line.
Break and continue
To exit a loop you can use the break statement at any time. This can be very useful if you
want to stop running a loop because a condition has been met other than the loop end
condition. Take a look at the following example:
#include<stdio.h>
int main()
{
int i;
i = 0;
while ( i < 20 )
{
i++;
if ( i == 10)
break;
}
return 0;
}
In the example above, the while loop will run, as long i is smaller then twenty. In the while
loop there is an if statement that states that if i equals ten the while loop must stop (break).
With continue; it is possible to skip the rest of the commands in the current loop and start
from the top again. (the loop variable must still be incremented). Take a look at the example
below:
#include<stdio.h>
int main()
{
int i;
i = 0;
while ( i < 20 )
{
i++;
continue;
printf("Nothing to see\n");
}
return 0;
}
In the example above, the printf function is never called because of the continue;.
