Break statement in java

Let’s learn break statement in java.

Break statement in java

When break statement is encountered in a loop, it breaks the loop execution based on some condition. break statement and continue statement are two important transfer statements.

Syntax:

break;

Break statement is used to stop fall-through in switch statement. For example,

int a = 0;

switch(a)
{
   case 0:
         System.out.println("0");
   case 1:
         System.out.println("1");
         break;
   case 2:
         System.out.println("2");
   default:
         System.out.println("default");
}

Output:

0
1

break statement can also be used in all types of loops namely while loop, do-while loop and for loop. Here’s how break statement works in all loops.

Let’s see an example on break statement in for loop.

public class BreakStatementExample
{
   public static void main(String[] args) 
   {
      for(int a = 1; a <= 10; a++)
      {
         if(a == 3)
         {  
            // breaking loop  
            break;  
         }  
         System.out.println(a);  
      }
   }
}

Output:

1
2

Break statement inside labeled blocks

Since JDK 1.5 we can use break statement in for loop with a label. By using this feature we can break either outer or inner loop.

public class BreakStatementForLoop
{
   public static void main(String[] args) 
   {
      aa:
      for(int a = 5; a <= 7; a++)
      {  
         bb:  
         for(int b = 5; b <= 7; b++)
         {  
            if(a == 6 && b == 6)
            {  
               // use break statement with label  
               break aa;    
            }    
            System.out.println(a + " " + b);    
         }    
      }
   }
}

Output:

5 5
5 6
5 7
6 5

Break statement in while loop

public class BreakStatementWhileLoop
{
   public static void main(String[] args) 
   {
      int a = 1;
      while(a <= 10)
      {
         if(a == 7)
         {
            a++;  
            break;// break the loop  
         }  
         System.out.println(a);  
         a++;
      }
   }
}

Output:

1
2
3
4
5
6

Break statement in do-while loop

public class BreakStatementDoWhileLoop
{
   public static void main(String[] args) 
   {
      int a = 1;  
      do
      {
         if(a == 7)
         {
            a++;  
            break; // break the loop  
         }
         System.out.println(a); 
         a++;
      }while(a <= 10);
   }
}

Output:

1
2
3
4
5
6