Loops in Java

The Java for loop is used to iterate a part of the program several times. If the number
of iteration is fixed, it is recommended to use for loop.

There are three types of for loops in Java.

o Simple for Loop

o For-each or Enhanced for Loop
o Labeled for Loop

Java Simple for Loop

A simple for loop is the same as C/C++. We can initialize the variable, check condition
and increment/decrement value. It consists of four parts:

1. Initialization: It is the initial condition which is executed once when the loop starts.
Here, we can initialize the variable, or we can use an already initialized variable. It is an
optional condition.
 2. Condition: It is the second condition which is executed each time to test the condition
of the loop. It continues execution until the condition is false. It must return boolean
value either true or false. It is an optional condition.
3. Increment/Decrement: It increments or decrements the variable value. It is an
optional condition.
4. Statement: The statement of the loop is executed each time until the second condition
is false.

Syntax:

6.2M

108

Hello Java Program for Beginners

1. for(initialization; condition; increment/decrement){

2. //statement or code to be executed
3. }

Flowchart:
Example:

ForExample.java

1. //Java Program to demonstrate the example of for loop

2. //which prints table of 1
3. public class ForExample {
4. public static void main(String[] args) {
5. //Code of Java for loop
6. for(int i=1;i<=10;i++){
7. System.out.println(i);
8. }
9. }
10. }
Test it Now
Output:

1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10

Java Nested for Loop

If we have a for loop inside the another loop, it is known as nested for loop. The inner
loop executes completely whenever outer loop executes.

Example:

NestedForExample.java

1. public class NestedForExample {

2. public static void main(String[] args) {
3. //loop of i
4. for(int i=1;i<=3;i++){
5. //loop of j
6. for(int j=1;j<=3;j++){
7. System.out.println(i+" "+j);
8. }//end of i
9. }//end of j
10. }
11. }

Output:

1 1
1 2
1 3
2 1
2 2
2 3
3 1
3 2
3 3

Pyramid Example 1:
PyramidExample.java

1. public class PyramidExample {

2. public static void main(String[] args) {
3. for(int i=1;i<=5;i++){
4. for(int j=1;j<=i;j++){
5. System.out.print("* ");
6. }
7. System.out.println();//new line
8. }
9. }
10. }

Output:

*
* *
* * *
* * * *
* * * * *

Pyramid Example 2:

PyramidExample2.java

1. public class PyramidExample2 {

2. public static void main(String[] args) {
3. int term=6;
4. for(int i=1;i<=term;i++){
5. for(int j=term;j>=i;j--){
6. System.out.print("* ");
7. }
8. System.out.println();//new line
9. }
10. }
11. }

Output:

* * * * * *
* * * * *
* * * *
* * *
* *
*

Java for-each Loop

The for-each loop is used to traverse array or collection in Java. It is easier to use than
simple for loop because we don't need to increment value and use subscript notation.

It works on the basis of elements and not the index. It returns element one by one in
the defined variable.

Syntax:

1. for(data_type variable : array_name){

2. //code to be executed
3. }

Example:

ForEachExample.java

1. //Java For-each loop example which prints the

2. //elements of the array
3. public class ForEachExample {
4. public static void main(String[] args) {
5. //Declaring an array
6. int arr[]={12,23,44,56,78};
7. //Printing array using for-each loop
8. for(int i:arr){
9. System.out.println(i);
10. }
11. }
12. }
Test it Now

Output:

12
23
44
56
78
Java Labeled For Loop
We can have a name of each Java for loop. To do so, we use label before the for loop.
It is useful while using the nested for loop as we can break/continue specific for loop.

Note: The break and continue keywords breaks or continues the innermost for loop
respectively.

Syntax:

1. labelname:
2. for(initialization; condition; increment/decrement){
3. //code to be executed
4. }

Example:

LabeledForExample.java

1. //A Java program to demonstrate the use of labeled for loop

2. public class LabeledForExample {
3. public static void main(String[] args) {
4. //Using Label for outer and for loop
5. aa:
6. for(int i=1;i<=3;i++){
7. bb:
8. for(int j=1;j<=3;j++){
9. if(i==2&&j==2){
10. break aa;
11. }
12. System.out.println(i+" "+j);
13. }
14. }
15. }
16. }

Output:

1 1
1 2
1 3
2 1
If you use break bb;, it will break inner loop only which is the default behaviour of any
loop.

LabeledForExample2.java

1. public class LabeledForExample2 {

2. public static void main(String[] args) {
3. aa:
4. for(int i=1;i<=3;i++){
5. bb:
6. for(int j=1;j<=3;j++){
7. if(i==2&&j==2){
8. break bb;
9. }
10. System.out.println(i+" "+j);
11. }
12. }
13. }
14. }

Output:

1 1
1 2
1 3
2 1
3 1
3 2
3 3

Java Infinitive for Loop

If you use two semicolons ;; in the for loop, it will be infinitive for loop.

Syntax:

1. for(;;){
2. //code to be executed
3. }

Example:

ForExample.java
 1. //Java program to demonstrate the use of infinite for loop
2. //which prints an statement
3. public class ForExample {
4. public static void main(String[] args) {
5. //Using no condition in for loop
6. for(;;){
7. System.out.println("infinitive loop");
8. }
9. }
10. }

Output:

infinitive loop
infinitive loop
infinitive loop
infinitive loop
infinitive loop
ctrl+c

Now, you need to press ctrl+c to exit from the program.

Java for Loop vs while Loop vs do-while Loop

Comparison for loop while loop do-while loop

Introduction The Java for loop is a control The Java while loop is a The Java do while loop is a
flow statement that iterates a control flow statement control flow statement that
part of the programs multiple that executes a part of executes a part of the
times. the programs repeatedly programs at least once and
on the basis of given the further execution
boolean condition. depends upon the given
boolean condition.

When to use If the number of iteration is If the number of iteration If the number of iteration is
fixed, it is recommended to is not fixed, it is not fixed and you must
use for loop. recommended to use have to execute the loop at
while loop. least once, it is
recommended to use the
do-while loop.
Syntax for(init;condition;incr/decr){ while(condition){ do{
// code to be executed //code to be executed //code to be executed
} } }while(condition);

Example //for loop //while loop //do-while loop

for(int i=1;i<=10;i++){ int i=1; int i=1;
System.out.println(i); while(i<=10){ do{
} System.out.println(i); System.out.println(i);
i++; i++;
} }while(i<=10);

Syntax for for(;;){ while(true){ do{

infinitive loop //code to be executed //code to be executed //code to be executed
} } }while(true);