The Syntax
break;
The break statement terminates the loop (for, while, and do...while loop) immediately when it is encountered.
Example:
// Program to calculate the sum of a maximum of 10 numbers
// If a negative number is entered, the loop terminates
# include <stdio.h>
int main()
{
int i;
double number, sum = 0.0;
for(i=1; i <= 10; ++i)
{
printf("Enter a n%d: ",i);
scanf("%lf",&number);
// If the user enters a negative number, the loop ends
if(number < 0.0)
{
break;
}
sum += number; // sum = sum + number;
}
printf("Sum = %.2lf",sum);
return 0;
}
Output:
Enter a n1: 2.4
Enter a n2: 4.5
Enter a n3: 3.4
Enter a n4: -3
Sum = 10.30
The Syntax
continue;
The continue statement immediately checks the test condition to decide if it should continue or exit.
// Program to calculate the sum of a maximum of 10 numbers
// Negative numbers are skipped from the calculation
# include <stdio.h>
int main()
{
int i;
double number, sum = 0.0;
for(i=1; i <= 10; ++i)
{
printf("Enter a n%d: ",i);
scanf("%lf",&number);
if(number < 0.0)
{
continue;
}
sum += number; // sum = sum + number;
}
printf("Sum = %.2lf",sum);
return 0;
}
Output:
Enter a n1: 1.1
Enter a n2: 2.2
Enter a n3: 5.5
Enter a n4: 4.4
Enter a n5: -3.4
Enter a n6: -45.5
Enter a n7: 34.5
Enter a n8: -4.2
Enter a n9: -1000
Enter a n10: 12
Sum = 59.70
These statements can used to get specific behaviors out of loops (for, while, and do...while). In C programming the break statement is also used with switch...case statements.