In Java, loops are control flow statements that allow us to execute a block of code repeatedly based on a specified condition.
There are several types of loops available in Java, each serving different purposes.
Here's an overview of the types of loops in Java:
The for loop is used when we know in advance how many times we want to execute a block of code.
It consists of three parts: initialization, condition, and iteration.
for (initialization; condition; iteration) {
// code to be executed
}
for (int i = 0; i < 5; i++) {
System.out.println("Iteration: " + i);
}
The while loop is used when we want to execute a block of code repeatedly as long as a specified condition is true.
It evaluates the condition before executing the loop body.
while (condition) {
// code to be executed
}
int i = 0;
while (i < 5) {
System.out.println("Iteration: " + i);
i++;
}
The do-while loop is similar to the while loop, but it evaluates the condition after executing the loop body, so the loop body is always executed at least once.
do {
// code to be executed
} while (condition);
int i = 0;
do {
System.out.println("Iteration: " + i);
i++;
} while (i < 5);
The foreach loop (or enhanced for loop) is used for iterating over elements of arrays or collections.
It simplifies the process of iterating through elements of an array or collection without the need for explicit initialization, condition, or iteration expressions.
for (type element : array/collection) {
// code to be executed for each element
}
int[] numbers = {1, 2, 3, 4, 5};
for (int number : numbers) {
System.out.println("Number: " + number);
}
Loops are essential constructs in programming that allow us to automate repetitive tasks and iterate over data structures effectively.
Each type of loop has its own use cases and advantages, so choose the one that best fits your specific requirements.