Java continue Statement

Java continue Statement

In this tutorial, you will find out about the continue statement and labeled continue statement in Java with the help of examples.

While working with loops, some of the time you should avoid a few proclamations or end the loop. In such cases, break and continue statements are used.

To learn about the break statement, visit Java break. Here, we will learn about the continue statement.

---

Java continue

The continue statement skips the current iteration of a loop (for, while, do…while, etc).

After the continue statement, the program moves to the furthest limit of the circle. Also, test articulation is assessed (update explanation is assessed in case of the for loop).

Here’s the syntax of the continue statement.

continue;

Note: The continue statement is almost always used in decision-making statements (if…else Statement).

---

Working of Java continue statement

• 

---

Example 1: Java continue statement

class Main {
  public static void main(String[] args) {

    // for loop
    for (int i = 1; i <= 10; ++i) {

      // if value of i is between 4 and 9
      // continue is executed
      if (i > 4 && i < 9) {
        continue;
      }
      System.out.println(i);
    }
  }
}

Output

1
2
    3
4
9
10

In the above program, we are using the for loop to print the value of i in each iteration. To know how for loop works, visit Java for loop. Notice the statement,

if (i > 5 && i < 9) {
    continue;
}

Here, the continue statement is executed when the value of I turns out to be more than 4 and under 9.

It at that point skips the print proclamation inside the loop. Consequently, we get the output with values 5, 6, 7, and 8 skipped.

---

Example 2: Compute the sum of 5 positive numbers

import java.util.Scanner;

class Main {
  public static void main(String[] args) {

    Double number, sum = 0.0;
    // create an object of Scanner
    Scanner input = new Scanner(System.in);

    for (int i = 1; i < 6; ++i) {
      System.out.print("Enter number " + i + " : ");
      // takes input from the user
      number = input.nextDouble();

      // if number is negative
      // continue statement is executed
      if (number <= 0.0) {
        continue;
      }

      sum += number;
    }
    System.out.println("Sum = " + sum);
    input.close();
  }
}

Output

Enter number 1: 2.2
Enter number 2: 5.6
Enter number 3: 0
Enter number 4: -2.4
Enter number 5: -3
Sum = 7.8

In the above example, we have used the for loop to print the sum of 5 positive numbers. Notice the line,

if (number < 0.0) {
    continue;
}

Here, when the user enters a negative number, the continue statement is executed. This avoids the current emphasis of the loop and takes the program control to the update articulation of the loop.

Note: To take input from the user, we have used the Scanner object. To learn more, visit Java Scanner.

---

Java continue with Nested Loop

In the case of nested loops in Java, the continue statement skips the current iteration of the innermost loop.

• 

---

Example 3: continue with Nested Loop

class Main {
  public static void main(String[] args) {

    int i = 1, j = 1;

    // outer loop
    while (i <= 3) {

      System.out.println("Outer Loop: " + i);

      // inner loop
      while(j <= 3) {

        if(j == 2) {
          j++;
          continue;
        }

        System.out.println("Inner Loop: " + j);
        j++;
      }
      i++;
    }
  }
}

Output

Outer Loop: 1
Inner Loop: 1
Inner Loop: 3
Outer Loop: 2
Outer Loop: 3

In the above example, we have used the nested while loop. Note that we have used the continue statement inside the inner loop.

if(j == 2) {
  j++;
  continue:
}

Here, when the value of j is 2, the value of j is increased and the continue statement is executed.

This skips the iteration of the inner loop. Hence, the text Inner Loop: 2 is skipped from the output.

---

Labeled continue Statement

Till now, we have used the unlabeled continue statement. Be that as it may, there is another type of continue statement in Java known as labeled continue.

It incorporates the mark of the loop alongside the continue with the catchphrase. For instance,

continue label;

Here, the continue statement skips the current iteration of the loop specified by label.

• 

We can see that the label identifier determines the external loop. Notice the use of the continue inside the internal loop.

Here, the continue statement is skipping the current iteration of the labeled proclamation (for example external circle). At that point, the program control goes to the next emphasis of the labeled statement.

---

Example 4: labeled continue Statement

class Main {
  public static void main(String[] args) {

    // outer loop is labeled as first
    first:
    for (int i = 1; i < 6; ++i) {

      // inner loop
      for (int j = 1; j < 5; ++j) {
        if (i == 3 || j == 2)

          // skips the current iteration of outer loop
          continue first;
        System.out.println("i = " + i + "; j = " + j);
      }
    }
  }
}

Output

i = 1; j = 1
i = 2; j = 1
i = 4; j = 1
i = 5; j = 1

In the above example, the labeled continue statement is used to skip the current iteration of the loop labeled as first.

if (i==3 || j==2)
    continue first;

Here, we can see the outermost for loop is labeled as first,

first:
for (int i = 1; i < 6; ++i) {..}

Hence, the iteration of the outer for loop is skipped if the value of i is 3 or the value of j is 2.

Note: The use of labeled continue is frequently debilitated as it makes your code hard to comprehend. If you are in a circumstance where you need to use labeled continue, refactor your code and attempt to tackle it in an alternate manner to make it more readable.

---

Thanks for reading! We hope you found this tutorial helpful and we would love to hear your feedback in the Comments section below. And show us what you’ve learned by sharing your photos and creative projects with us.

Java Flow Control