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Break Statement in JavaScript

In JavaScript, the break statement is used to exit a loop prematurely. It is often used when you want to terminate the loop based on a certain condition.

Syntax​

The syntax of the break statement is as follows:

app.js
for (let i = 1; i <= 5; i++) {
  if (i === 3) {
    break;
  }
  console.log(i);
}
  • The break statement is used to exit the loop prematurely.
  • It can be used inside a for, while, or do...while loop.
  • When the break statement is encountered, the loop is terminated, and the program continues with the next statement after the loop.
  • If the loop is inside a function, the break statement will terminate the loop and the function.
  • The break statement should be used only within a loop, otherwise, it will produce a syntax error.
  • The break statement can be used to exit a loop based on a certain condition, such as a specific value or a user input.
  • The break statement can be used to avoid an infinite loop by providing a way to exit the loop when a certain condition is met.
  • The break statement can be used to optimize the performance of a loop by avoiding unnecessary iterations.
  • The break statement can be used to exit a loop based on a certain condition, such as a specific value or a user input.
  • The break statement can be used to avoid an infinite loop by providing a way to exit the loop when a certain condition is met.

Flow Chart of the break Statement​

Example​

The following example demonstrates how to use the break statement to exit a loop based on a certain condition:

app.js
for (let i = 1; i <= 5; i++) {
  if (i === 3) {
    break;
  }
  console.log(i);
}

In this example, the for loop initializes the loop variable i to 1. It then checks if i is less than or equal to 5. If the condition is true, it executes the code inside the loop and increments i by 1. However, when i is equal to 3, the break statement is encountered, and the loop is terminated. The program then continues with the next statement after the loop.

The output of the above example will be:

Output
1
2

In this example, the loop is terminated when i is equal to 3, and the program continues with the next statement after the loop. The numbers 1 and 2 are printed to the console before the loop is terminated.

The break statement can be used to exit a loop based on a certain condition, such as a specific value or a user input. It is often used to optimize the performance of a loop by avoiding unnecessary iterations. The break statement should be used with caution, as it can make the code harder to read and understand. It is recommended to use the break statement sparingly and only when necessary.

Example​

The following example demonstrates how to use the break statement to exit a loop based on a certain condition:

app.js
let numbers = [1, 2, 3, 4, 5];
for (let i = 0; i < numbers.length; i++) {
  if (numbers[i] === 3) {
    break;
  }
  console.log(numbers[i]);
}

In this example, the for loop iterates over the elements of the numbers array. It checks if the current element is equal to 3. If the condition is true, the break statement is encountered, and the loop is terminated. The program then continues with the next statement after the loop.

The output of the above example will be:

Output
1
2

In this example, the loop is terminated when the current element is equal to 3, and the program continues with the next statement after the loop. The numbers 1 and 2 are printed to the console before the loop is terminated.

The break statement can be used to exit a loop based on a certain condition, such as a specific value or a user input. It is often used to optimize the performance of a loop by avoiding unnecessary iterations. The break statement should be used with caution, as it can make the code harder to read and understand. It is recommended to use the break statement sparingly and only when necessary.

🤔 Remember
  • The break statement is used to exit a loop prematurely.
  • It can be used inside a for, while, or do...while loop.
  • When the break statement is encountered, the loop is terminated, and the program continues with the next statement after the loop.
  • The break statement should be used only within a loop, otherwise, it will produce a syntax error.
  • The break statement can be used to exit a loop based on a certain condition, such as a specific value or a user input.
  • The break statement can be used to avoid an infinite loop by providing a way to exit the loop when a certain condition is met.
  • The break statement can be used to optimize the performance of a loop by avoiding unnecessary iterations.

Summary​

In this tutorial, we learned about the break statement in JavaScript. We learned how to use the break statement to exit a loop prematurely based on a certain condition. We also learned about the syntax of the break statement and how to use it to optimize the performance of a loop. We also learned about the best practices for using the break statement and when to use it sparingly.