Java for-each Loop

Java for-each Loop

In this tutorial, we will find out about the Java for-each loop and its distinction with for loop with the help of examples.

In Java, the for-each loop is used to iterate through elements of arrays and assortments (like ArrayList). It is otherwise called the upgraded for loop.

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for-each Loop Syntax

The syntax of the Java for-each loop is:

for(dataType item : array) {
    ...
}

Here,

• array – an array or a collection
• item – each item of array/collection is assigned to this variable
• dataType – the data type of the array/collection

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Example 1: Print Array Elements

// print array elements 

class Main {
  public static void main(String[] args) {
      
    // create an array
    int[] numbers = {3, 9, 5, -5};
    
    // for each loop 
    for (int number: numbers) {
      System.out.println(number);
    }
  }
}

Output

3
9
5
-5

Here, we have used the for-each loop to print every component of the array one by one.

• In the first iteration, the item will be 3.
• In the second iteration, the item will be 9.
• In the third iteration, the item will be 5.
• In the fourth iteration, the item will be -5.

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Example 2: Sum of Array Elements

// Calculate the sum of all elements of an array

class Main {
 public static void main(String[] args) {
  
   // an array of numbers
   int[] numbers = {3, 4, 5, -5, 0, 12};
   int sum = 0;

   // iterating through each element of the array 
   for (int number: numbers) {
     sum += number;
   }
  
   System.out.println("Sum = " + sum);
 }
}

Output

Sum = 19

In the above program, the execution of the for each loop looks as:

Iteration	Variables
1	number = 3 sum = 0 + 3 = 3
2	number = 4 sum = 3 + 4 = 7
3	number = 5 sum = 7 + 5 = 12
4	number = -5 sum = 12 + (-5) = 7
5	number = 0 sum = 7 + 0 = 7
6	number = 12 sum = 7 + 12 = 19

As should be obvious, we have included every component of the numbers array to the sum variable in every iteration of the loop.

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for loop Vs for-each loop

Let’s see how a for-each loop is different from a regular Java for loop.

1. Using for loop

class Main {
 public static void main(String[] args) {
    
   char[] vowels = {'a', 'e', 'i', 'o', 'u'};

   // iterating through an array using a for loop
   for (int i = 0; i < vowels.length; ++ i) {
     System.out.println(vowels[i]);
   }
 }
}

Output

a
e
i
o
u

2. Using for-each Loop

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

   char[] vowels = {'a', 'e', 'i', 'o', 'u'};
  
   // iterating through an array using the for-each loop
   for (char item: vowels) {
     System.out.println(item);
   }
 }
}

Output

a
e
i
o
u

Here, the output of the two projects is the equivalent. Be that as it may, the for-each loop is simpler to compose and comprehend.

This is the reason the for-each loop is favored over the for loop when working with arrays and assortments.

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