break and continue
- Java course
- Beginner
- Lesson 45/116
- 3 min
Learn to exit with break and skip with continue.
break and continue
break exits the loop entirely; continue skips the current turn and moves to the next.
for (int i = 0; i < 10; i++) {
if (i == 5) {
break; // loop ends
}
System.out.println(i);
}This prints 0, 1, 2, 3, 4; when i == 5 the loop exits. break and continue are usually used inside an if; without a condition, the rest of the loop never runs.
A continue example
continue skips the rest of the current turn and moves to the next. To skip even numbers:
for (int i = 0; i < 6; i++) {
if (i % 2 == 0) {
continue;
}
System.out.println(i);
}This prints only odd numbers: 1, 3, 5. When continue is called, the code below it is skipped for that turn, but the loop continues with the next i.
Practice Stop at 5
Write a Main class with a main method. Write for (int i = 0; i < 10; i++). When if (i == 5) use break; to exit. Print System.out.println(i) each turn.
Sample solution
public class Main {
public static void main(String[] args) {
for (int i = 0; i < 10; i++) {
if (i == 5) {
break;
}
System.out.println(i);
}
}
}Expected output
0 1 2 3 4
Questions and answers
Review the lesson questions together with their answers. To test yourself, solve the lesson interactively.
1 Match the break/continue concepts
| Term | Meaning |
|---|---|
break |
Exit loop |
continue |
Skip turn |
if |
Condition |
{ } |
Block |
2 What does break do?
- Starts the loop
- Exits the loop Correct answer
- Skips a turn
- Nothing
Explanation: break exits the loop entirely.
3 Complete the break call
for (int i = 0; i < 10; i++) {
if (i == 5) {
____;
}
System.out.println(i);
}for (int i = 0; i < 10; i++) {
if (i == 5) {
break;
}
System.out.println(i);
}Explanation: break exits the loop when i == 5.