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C++ Nested Loop

In this tutorial, we will learn about nested loops in C++ with the help of examples. We will also learn about break and
continue in Nested Loop.

Introduction of Nested Loop in C++

A loop within another loop is called a nested loop. Nested loop means a loop statement inside another loop statement.
That's why nested loop are also called as loop inside loop.

Working of Nested Loop

Execution of statement within the loop flows in a way that the inner loop of the nested loop gets
declared, initialized and then incremented .

Once all the condition within the inner loop gets satisfied and becomes true it moves for the search of the outer
loop. It is often called a loop within a loop .

Let's take an example:-

Suppose we want to loop through each day of a week for 3 weeks. To achieve this, we can create a loop to iterate three
times (3 weeks). And inside the loop, we can create another loop to iterate 7 times (7 days). This is how we can use
nested loops.

Nested for Loop

A for loop within another for loop is called Nested For loop

The syntax of nested for loop is:

for (initialization; condition; update) {

for (initialization; condition; update) {
// body of inner for-loop
}
// body of outer for-loop
}

Nested while Loop

A while loop within another while loop is called Nested while loop.

The syntax of nested while loop is:

 
 while (condition) {
while (condition) {
// body of inner while-loop
}
// body of outer while-loop
}

Nested do-while Loop

A do-while loop within another do-while loop is called Nested do-while loop.

The syntax of nested do-while loop is:

do {
do{
// body of inner do-while-loop
}while (condition);
// body of outer do-while-loop
}while (condition);

Example 1: C++ Nested for loop

// C++ program to display 7 days a weeks

#include <iostream>
using namespace std;

int main() {
int weeks = 1, days_in_week = 7;

for (int i = 1; i <= weeks; ++i) {

cout << "Week: " << i << endl;

for (int j = 1; j <= days_in_week; ++j) {

cout << " Day:" << j << endl;
}
}
return 0;
}

Output

Week: 1
Day:1
Day:2
Day:3
Day:4
Day:5
Day:6
Day:7

We can create nested loops with while and do...while in a similar way.


Example 2: Displaying a Pattern

// C++ program to display a triangular pattern

// Number is entered by the user

#include <iostream>
using namespace std;

int main() {

int i, j, n;
cout << "Enter Number : ";
cin >> n;

for (i = 1; i <= n; i++) {

for (j = 1; j <= i; j++) {
cout << "* ";
}
cout << endl;
}

return 0;
}

Output

Enter Number : 4
*
* *
* * *
* * * *

In this program, the outer loop iterates from 1 to rows .

The inner loop iterates from 1 to columns . Inside the inner loop, we print the character '*' .

Example 3: C++ Nested while Loop

// C++ program to display a triangular pattern of numbers using nested while loop

#include <iostream>
using namespace std;

int main() {

int rows, i = 1;
cout << "Enter the number of rows: ";
cin >> rows;

while (i <= rows) {

int j = 1;
while(j <= i) {
cout << i;
j++;
}
cout << "\n";
i++;
}
return 0;
}

Output


 Enter the number of rows: 4
1
22
333
4444

In this program, the outer loop iterates from 1 to rows .

The inner loop iterates from 1 to i . Inside the inner loop, we print the numbers.

Example 4: C++ Nested do-while Loop

// C++ program to display a triangular pattern of numbers using nested do-while loop

#include <iostream>
using namespace std;

int main() {

int rows, i,j;

i = 1;
cout << "Enter the number of rows: ";
cin >> rows;
do {
j = 1;
do{
cout << j;
j++;
}while(j <= i);
cout << "\n";
i++;
}while(i <= rows);

return 0;
}

Output

Enter the number of rows: 4

1
12
123
1234

break and continue Inside Nested Loops

When we use a break statement inside the inner loop, it terminates the inner loop but not the outer loop. For example,


Example 4: C++ break Inside Nested Loops

// C++ program to display a triangular pattern of numbers using nested do-while loop

#include <iostream>
using namespace std;

int main() {
int weeks = 3, days_in_week = 2;

for (int i = 1; i <= weeks; ++i) {

cout << "Week: " << i << endl;

for (int j = 1; j <= days_in_week; ++j) {

// break during the 2nd week
if (i == 2) {
break;
}
cout << " Day:" << j << endl;
}
}
return 0;
}

Output

Week: 1
Day:1
Day:2
Week: 2
Week: 3
Day:1
Day:2

This program does not run the inner loop when the value of i is 2 i.e. it does not print the days of the 2nd week. The
outer loop that prints the weeks is unaffected.

Similarly, when we use a continue statement inside the inner loop, it skips the current iteration of the inner loop only.
The outer loop is unaffected. For example,

Example 4: C++ break Inside Nested Loops

// C++ program to display a triangular pattern of numbers using nested do-while loop

#include <iostream>
using namespace std;

int main() {
int weeks = 3, days_in_week = 7;

for (int i = 1; i <= weeks; ++i) {

cout << "Week: " << i << endl;

for (int j = 1; j <= days_in_week; ++j) {

// continue if the day is an even number
if (j % 2 == 0) {
continue;
}
cout << " Day:" << j << endl;
}
}

return 0;
}
 Output

Week: 1
Day:1
Day:3
Day:5
Day:7
Week: 2
Day:1
Day:3
Day:5
Day:7
Week: 3
Day:1
Day:3
Day:5
Day:7

This program prints only those days that are even.

Whenever the days_in_week is even, the continue statement skips that iteration of the inner loop.

We hope that this tutorial helped you develop better understanding of the concept of Nested Loops in C++.

Keep Learning : )

- Related Topics

C++ Tutorial C++ Tutorial

C++ For Loop C++ While/do-while loop

C++ Tutorial C++ Tutorial

C++ Operators C++ Relational & Logical Operators

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