Java Interview Questions on Loops and Conditionals (Full Set)
Q1. Difference between if-else and switch?
Ans: if-else handles ranges/conditions. switch works with discrete values (int, char, String, enum).
Q2. Can we use switch with String?
Ans: Yes, from Java 7 onwards.
Q3. Can we use switch with multiple cases having same code?
Ans: Yes, using fall-through without break.
Q4. What is the default case in a switch? Is it mandatory?
Ans: Executes if no case matches. It is optional.
Q5. Can we use switch with boolean, float, or double?
Ans: No, only byte, short, int, char, enum, String.
Q6. What is the difference between == and equals()?
Ans: == compares references, equals() compares content.
Q7. Can if statement work without else?
Ans: Yes, else is optional.
Q8. What is nested if?
Ans: An if inside another if.
Q9. What happens if we don’t use break in a switch?
Ans: Fall-through occurs; next case executes.
Q10. Difference between if-else-if ladder and switch?
Ans: if-else checks sequentially, switch jumps to case directly.
Q11. Can we write switch(null)?
Ans: No, it throws NullPointerException.
Q12. Can ternary operator ?: replace if-else?
Ans: Yes, for simple conditions.
Q13. Difference between if(x==true) and if(x)?
Ans: Both work if x is boolean, but if(x) is preferred.
Q14. Can we use return inside if?
Ans: Yes, it terminates method immediately.
Q15. Which is faster: if-else or switch?
Ans: switch is faster for discrete values.
Q16. Difference between for, while, and do-while?
Ans: for = known iterations, while = condition first, do-while = executes once before check.
Q17. Difference between while(true) and for(;;)?
Ans: Both are infinite loops.
Q18. What is an enhanced for loop?
Ans: for-each loop to iterate arrays/collections.
Q19. Can we remove elements from a collection in for-each?
Ans: No, use Iterator to avoid ConcurrentModificationException.
Q20. Difference between break and continue?
Ans: break exits loop, continue skips current iteration.
Q21. Can we use a loop without body?
Ans: Yes, using ; (empty statement).
Q22. Can a loop run infinitely?
Ans: Yes, if condition is always true.
Q23. Entry-controlled vs exit-controlled loops?
Ans: Entry-controlled: condition checked first (for, while). Exit-controlled: executes once before check (do-wh
Q24. Can we nest loops in Java?
Ans: Yes, loop inside another loop.
Q25. What is loop unrolling?
Ans: Optimization where loop iterations are expanded to reduce overhead.
Q26. Can we label loops in Java?
Ans: Yes, using labels with break/continue.
Q27. Difference between continue in normal vs labeled loop?
Ans: Normal continue → next iteration, labeled continue → skips outer loop iteration.
Q28. For-each vs normal for loop performance?
Ans: For-each is simpler, normal for allows index access.
Q29. Can we declare variable inside loop condition?
Ans: Yes, e.g., for(int i=0; i<5; i++).
Q30. Can we use multiple conditions in a loop?
Ans: Yes, with comma operator in for loop.
Q31. What if we use float/double in loops?
Ans: Works but may cause precision issues.
Q32. Difference between forEach method (Java 8) and for-each loop?
Ans: forEach is a Stream/Collection method using lambdas.
Q33. Can we break out of multiple nested loops at once?
Ans: Yes, using labeled break.
Q34. What is infinite recursion?
Ans: Method calls itself endlessly, behaves like infinite loop.
Q35. Maximum number of times a loop can run?
Ans: Up to Integer.MAX_VALUE theoretically.
Q36. Scope of variable declared inside for loop?
Ans: Accessible only within the loop.
Q37. Can we use loops without conditions?
Ans: Yes, e.g., for(;;).
Q38. Can break be used without loops?
Ans: No, except inside switch.
Q39. Can continue be used without loops?
Ans: No, only inside loops.
Q40. Difference between recursion and loops?
Ans: Loops use iteration, recursion calls method repeatedly.
