Break and Continue Statement in C – Syntax, Examples, and Key Differences

The methods that control the order in which a program's statements are executed are referred to as flow control in C. It helps in making decisions, repeating tasks, and controlling the flow of execution based on conditions. The main types of flow control structures in C are:

1. Sequential Execution

This is the default flow where statements execute one after another in the order they are written. No jumps, conditions, or loops affect this flow unless explicitly defined.

2. Decision-Making Statements

These enable the program to run particular code blocks in response to certain circumstances. 

Key decision-making structures include:

• if and else: Used to execute different code blocks depending on whether a condition is true or false.
• switch: Allows selecting one of many possible execution paths based on the value of an expression.

3. Looping Statements

Loops help in executing a block of code multiple times, reducing redundancy and improving efficiency. The main types of loops are:

• for loop: Runs a set number of times, often used for iterating over arrays or counting operations.
• while loop: Continues execution as long as a specified condition remains true.
• do-while loop: Runs at least once before checking the state.

4. Jump Statements (break and continue)

These special statements modify loop execution:

• break: Immediately exits a loop or switch statement.
• continue: Skips the current iteration and moves to the next cycle of the loop.

By using these flow control structures effectively, C programmers can create logical, efficient, and optimized programs.

The flow of loops and decision-making structures are managed using the break and continue statements in C. These statements allow programmers to alter the normal execution of loops based on specific conditions, making programs more efficient and flexible.

The main purpose of the break statement is to immediately switch cases and end loops. When a break exists inside a loop, further iterations are halted and control is passed to the next sentence. When a specific condition is satisfied, this is helpful because it eliminates the need to loop. 

For example, in a loop searching for a particular element in an array, the break can stop execution once the element is found, preventing unnecessary iterations.

In a switch statement, the break ensures that once a matching case is executed, control exits the switch block, preventing fall-through to other cases. This helps in ensuring only the relevant case executes based on the given input.

How Does the Break Statement Work in Different Cases

Before jumping into the main topic of how break and continue statement in C work, let’s learn how they work individually. Here's how the break statement works in different loop structures in C, along with small examples:

In a for loop

The break statement is used to immediately terminate the loop when a certain condition is met, even if the loop’s ending condition is not yet fulfilled.

Example

#include <stdio.h>
int main() {
    for (int i = 1; i <= 10; i++) {
        if (i == 5)
            break;
        printf("%d ", i);
    }
    return 0;
}

Explanation

• This for loop is supposed to print numbers from 1 to 10.
• But when i becomes 5, the break statement is triggered.
• So the output will be: 1 2 3 4 (loop stops at 5).

Output

1 2 3 4 

In a while loop

When a specified condition within a while loop becomes true, the break statement is used to terminate the loop early.

Example

#include <stdio.h>
int main() {
    int i = 1;
    while (i <= 10) {
        if (i == 4)
            break;
        printf("%d ", i);
        i++;
    }
    return 0;
}

Explanation

• The loop condition is i <= 10.
• When i reaches 4, break ends the loop immediately.

Output

1 2 3

In a do-while loop

In a do-while loop, the block is executed at least once, and break can be used to stop further repetition.

Example

#include <stdio.h>
int main() {
    int i = 1;
    do {
        if (i == 6)
            break;
        printf("%d ", i);
        i++;
    } while (i <= 10);
    return 0;
}

Explanation

• The loop prints numbers starting from 1.
• When i becomes 6, the break exits the loop.

Output

1 2 3 4 5

Inside a Switch Case

In a switch statement, the break prevents fall-through by exiting the block after the matched case executes. Without it, the program may continue into the next case unintentionally. Using break ensures clean control flow and avoids unnecessary operations, making programs more efficient and structured.

Example: Break Statement inside a Switch Case

#include <stdio.h>

int main() {
    int num = 2;
    switch (num) {
        case 1:
            printf("Case 1\n");
            break;
        case 2:
            printf("Case 2\n");
            break;
         default:
            printf("Default case\n");
    }
    return 0;
}

Explanation

• This program uses a switch statement to check the value of num.
• Since num is 2, it matches the second case (case 2) and prints "Case 2".
• After executing the matching case, the break statement exits the switch block, preventing the default case from executing.

Output

Case 2

A loop's current iteration can be skipped and the next one can be reached using the continue command. Unlike break, it does not exit the loop completely but bypasses the remaining code in the current iteration when a specific condition is met. This is particularly useful when certain values need to be skipped without stopping the entire loop.

Syntax of the Continue Statement in C

continue;

This is the basic syntax. When a loop contains the continue statement, the control ignores any subsequent statements and moves to the next iteration of the loop.

How does the Continue Statement work?

In C, the continue statement moves on to the next loop iteration, bypassing the current one. It does not terminate the loop, and it only skips the remaining statements for that particular iteration.

1. continue in a for loop

When the continue command is used, the program advances to the next loop iteration.  This means the increment or update statement is executed, followed by the loop's condition check.

Example of continue in a for loop

#include <stdio.h>

int main() {
    for(int i = 1; i <= 5; i++) {
        if(i == 3) {
            // Skip iteration when i is 3
            continue;
        }
        printf("%d\n", i);
    }
    return 0;
}

Explanation

This program uses a for loop to print numbers from 1 to 5, but skips printing the number 3 using the continue statement. When i equals 3, continue causes the loop to skip the printf and move to the next iteration.

Output

1
2
4
5

2. continue in a while loop

In a while loop, the control is transferred back to the condition check after the continue statement is executed, and the loop either continues or exits based on the result of the condition.

Example of continue in a while loop

#include <stdio.h>

int main() {
    int i = 1;
    while(i <= 5) {
        if(i == 3) {
            // Skip printing 3
            i++;
            continue;
        }
        printf("%d\n", i);
        i++;
    }
    return 0;
}

Explanation

This code uses a while loop to print digits 1 through 5. When i becomes 3, the continue statement skips the printf, so 3 is not printed. All other numbers (1, 2, 4, 5) are printed on separate lines.

Output

1
2
4
5

3. continue in a do-while loop

In a do-while loop, the control moves to the condition check after the continue statement, just like in a while loop.

Example of continue in a do-while loop

#include <stdio.h>

int main() {
    int i = 1;
    do {
        if(i == 3) {
            // Skip the current iteration when i is 3
            i++;
            continue;
        }
        printf("%d\n", i);
        i++;
    } while(i <= 5);
    return 0;
}

Explanation

In the do-while loop, continue is used to skip printing 3 when i == 3. The loop checks the condition at the end, and after skipping 3, the loop continues printing other values.

Output

1
2
4
5

The break and continue statements can be used in a while loop to control the flow of execution. While break exits the loop entirely, continue skips the current iteration and moves to the next one.

Example: Using Break and Continue in a While Loop

#include <stdio.h>

int main() {
    int i = 1;
    while(i <= 10) {
        if(i == 5) {
            i++;
            continue; // Skip printing 5
        }
        if(i == 8) {
            break; // When I is 8 the loop exits
        printf("%d\n", i);
        i++;
    }
    return 0;
}

Explanation

• The loop runs from i = 1 to i = 10.
• When i is 5, the continue statement skips the printing for that iteration, so 5 is not printed.
• Upon reaching i = 8, the break statement terminates the loop.

Output

1
2
3
4
6
7

When using the difference between the break and continue statement in C inside a switch case, it ensures that only one case executes before exiting. The continue statement, however, is not used within switch statements but is effective inside loops that run within switch cases.

Example: Using Break and Continue in a Switch-Loop Combination

#include <stdio.h>

int main() {
    int num;
    for (num = 1; num <= 5; num++) {
        switch (num) {
            case 3:
                continue; // Skip iteration when num is 3
            case 5:
                break; // Exit switch case when num is 5
            default:
                printf("Number: %d\n", num);
        }
    }
    return 0;
}

Output

Number: 1
Number: 2
Number: 4

The break and continue statements are used to control the flow of loops and switch statements. Although they seem similar, their behavior is quite different. Below is a complete comparison of break and continue statement in C:

Another tool for control flow that moves control to a labeled statement inside the same function is the goto statement. Unlike break and continue, goto allows jumping to any part of the program, which can make debugging difficult.

Example of Goto Statement in C

#include <stdio.h>

int main() {
    int i = 1;
    loop:
        printf("%d\n", i);
        i++;
        if (i <= 5) {
            goto loop;
        }
    return 0;
}

Explanation

This C program prints numbers from 1 to 5 using the goto statement. It starts with i = 1, prints the value, increments it, and jumps back to the label loop if i <= 5. Once i becomes 6, the loop ends. Though it works, using goto for loops is not recommended; for or while loops are better and cleaner.

Output

1
2
3
4
5

While goto provides flexibility, it is discouraged as it can lead to code that is difficult to read and maintain.

In C, a function can be terminated and a value can be optionally returned to the function caller using the return statement. It is crucial for the communication of results and the execution of functions.

Use of return

• It ends the function immediately.
• Passes control back to the calling function.
• Sends a value (if any) to the caller.

Syntax

return;          // used in void functions
return value;    // used in functions that return something

Example: Return the sum of two numbers

#include <stdio.h>

// Function to add two numbers
int add(int a, int b) {
    return a + b;  // returns the result of a + b
}

int main() {
    int result = add(5, 3);  // function call
    printf("The sum is: %d", result);
    return 0;  // end of main function
}

Explanation

1. add(int a, int b): Two numbers are required for this function.
2. return a + b;: It computes the sum and sends it back to the caller (main()).
3. int result = add(5, 3);: The returned value (8) is stored in result.
4. printf(...): Prints the returned value.

Output

The sum is: 8

Mastering the concepts of the break and continue statement in C provides essential control over loop execution. While break terminates a loop or switch statement, continue skips specific iterations. Moreover, while, goto offers another control mechanism, it is rarely recommended due to its potential for creating unstructured code.

Also, gaining knowledge of the break and continue statement in C ensures better flow control, making code execution more predictable and efficient. By implementing break, continue, and goto statements in C appropriately, developers can optimize loop performance and improve code clarity.

1. What is the difference between break and continue?

The break statement terminates the entire loop or switch statement immediately. It completely exits the loop. In contrast, the continue statement only skips the current iteration of the loop and proceeds to the next iteration without terminating the loop itself.

2. Can break and continue be used in all loops?

Yes, all loop types (for, while, and do-while) can use both break and continue. They function in the same way across these loop types, with the break exiting the loop and continue skipping the current iteration.

3. Can Continue skip the whole loop iteration in C?

No, the continue statement skips only the remaining statements in the current iteration of the loop and moves control to the next iteration. It does not exit the loop entirely.

4. What happens if break is used inside a nested loop?

When break is used inside a nested loop, it only terminates the innermost loop in which it appears. If you want to exit multiple loops, you would need additional control mechanisms, such as flags or labeled breaks (in languages that support them).

5. Can a continue statement be used in a switch statement?

No, the continue statement is not valid in a switch block. In a switch statement, break is commonly used to exit from a specific case or to prevent falling through to subsequent cases.

6. What happens if break is used in a while loop without a condition?

Using break in a while loop will terminate the loop regardless of the condition. Once the break is executed, the control moves to the code following the loop, exiting it immediately.

7. How does the continue statement affect a for loop?

In a for loop, when continue is executed, the control jumps to the increment step, and the loop condition is checked again. The next iteration begins if the condition remains true; if otherwise, the loop terminates.

8. Is it possible to use continue in a do-while loop?

It is possible to utilize continue in a do-while loop. It will skip the remaining statements of the current iteration and transfer control to the condition check at the end of the loop to determine if another iteration should be executed.

9. What is the difference between break, return, and continue statements?

The break statement exits loops or switch blocks, continue skips the current loop iteration, and return ends the function and optionally sends a value back.

10. What is the key role of break statement in C?

The break statement is used to immediately terminate a loop or switch block and transfer control to the statement following it.