Loops and Jump Statements

Loops
Loops are used to do something repeatedly. You need to print 'n' numbers, then you
can use a loop to do so. There are many different kinds of loops, but they almost do the
same thing. Their use varies depending on the type of situation, where one loop will be
easy to implement over another.
They are used to run the same code repeatedly, each time with a different value.

Types of loops
● for
● for/in
● for/off
● while
● do-while

for loop
A for loop is used to repeat something until the condition evaluates to false.

Syntax : for ( [initializationStatement] ; [condition] ; [updateStatement] ) {

//code to be executed multiple times
}

● The initialisation statement is used to initialise loop counters.

● The condition is the expression that is evaluated to boolean value true or false.
● The update statement is used to update the loop counters.

Example : for (let i = 0; i < 5; i++) {

console.log(“Coding Ninjas”) ;
}
Output : Prints Coding Ninjas 5 times in 5 different lines

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Initialisation statement

● The initialisation statement is optional, and you can initialise these statements
before the for loop.

Example : let i=0 ;

for ( ; i < 5; i++) {
console.log(“Coding Ninjas”) ;
}
Output : Prints Coding Ninjas 5 times in 5 different lines

Note: You need to provide a semicolon for each part of the loop, even if the options are
missing.

● You can provide more than one initialisation statement using a comma( "," ) as a
separator.

Example : for (let i = 1 , j=3 ; i <= 3 ; i++ , j--) {

console.log( i+j ) ;
}
Output : 4
4
4

Note: When using multiple initialisation variables , it is not mandatory to mention

conditions for each variable, but it is compulsory to mention an update statement for
each of them

Condition

Often the condition is used to evaluate the condition of the initial variable.
This is not always the case; JavaScript doesn't care. Condition is also optional.
If the condition returns true, the loop will start over again. If it returns false, the loop will
end.
Note: If you discard the condition, a break should be given inside the loop. Otherwise,
the loop will never end. This will crash your browser.
We Will study about break statement further in this module

2
Update Statement

The update is used to increment/decrement the value of the initial variable.

This is not always the case, JavaScript doesn't care, and Update Statement is optional.
The update can also be omitted (like when you increment your values inside the loop)

Example : let i = 0 ;
for ( ; i < 5; ) {
console.log(“Coding Ninjas”) ;
i++ ;
}
Output : Prints Coding Ninjas 5 times in 5 different lines

Loop scope
Using var :

var i = 5;
for (var i = 0; i < 10; i++) {
console.log(“Coding Ninjas”) ;
}
console.log(i) ; // 10
Because till 9, the condition would be true, then i increments by one and becomes 10
and exits the loop.

By using var, the variable declared in the loop redeclares the variable outside the loop.

Using let:

let i = 5;
for (let i = 0; i < 10; i++) {
console.log(“Coding Ninjas”) ;
}
console.log(i) ; // 5

By using let, the variable declared in the loop is not redeclared outside the loop, and i
used in the loop(block scope) is different from the outside variable i

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For/in and For/of Loops
● for/in - loops through the properties of an object
● for/of - loops through the values of an iterable object

They are mainly. used on objects and arrays, hence will be covered in detail in the next
module

while loop
The while statement executes the statements until the condition is not false.

Syntax : while (condition) {

// code to be executed multiple times
}

First, the condition is evaluated, and if it is true, then the statements are executed, and
the condition is tested again. The execution stops when the condition returns false.

NOTE: You have to provide an update expression inside the loop so that it does not
repeat infinitely.

Example : let i = 0 ;
while (i < 5) {
console.log(“Coding Ninjas”) ;
i++;
}
Output : Prints Coding Ninjas 5 times in 5 different lines

do while loop
The do-while loop is similar to the while loop, except that the statements are executed
at least once

Syntax : do {
// code to be executed multiple times
} while (condition);

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Example : let i = -1 ;
do {
console.log(“Coding Ninjas”) ;
i++;
} while (i > 0);
Output : Coding Ninjas

Difference between while and do while loop

while do while

Condition is checked first then Statement(s) is executed at least once.

statement(s) is executed. After that, the condition is checked.

It might occur statement(s) is executed At least once the statement(s) is

zero times If the condition is false. executed.

No semicolon at the end of a while. The semicolon at the end of the while.
while(condition) while(condition);

If there is a single statement, brackets

Brackets are always required.
are not required.

Variable in the condition is initialised Variable may be initialised before or

before the execution of the loop. within the loop.

while loop is entry controlled loop. do while loop is exit controlled loop.

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Jump Statements
In JavaScript there are two types of jump statements :

● break
● continue

break Statement
We talked about this in the for loop when there is no condition passed then it is used to
jump out of a switch( ) statement.
The break statement can also be used to jump out of a loop.

Example : for(let i = 0 ; ; i++){

if(i==3)
break ;
console.log(“Coding Ninjas”) ;
}
Output : Prints Coding Ninjas 3 times in 3 different lines

NOTE: In the above example, there was no condition passed to the for loop, but in case
the condition is mentioned, the break can also be used to jump out of the loop at some
point

Example : for(let i = 0 ; i < 10 ; i++){

if(i==3)
break ;
console.log(“Coding Ninjas”) ;
}
Output : Prints Coding Ninjas 3 times in 3 different lines

continue Statement
The continue statement breaks one iteration (in the loop) if a specified condition occurs
and continues with the next iteration.

For example, you need to print “Coding Ninjas” if the number is odd and the number
along with it from 0 to 10

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Example : for (let i = 0; i < 10; i++) {
if ( i %2 == 0)
continue ;
console.log(“Coding Ninjas” , i ) ;
}

Output : Coding Ninjas 1

Coding Ninjas 3
Coding Ninjas 5
Coding Ninjas 7
Coding Ninjas 9

This could’ve also be achieved by using if-else.