Jump Statements (break, continue, goto) in C++

Jump statements are used to control the flow of loops and other control structures in C++. The primary jump statements are break, continue, and goto. Each of these statements is used for different purposes, as described below with examples.

1. The break Statement

The break statement is used to terminate the loop or switch statement immediately, regardless of the remaining iterations or conditions. It is commonly used to exit a loop when a certain condition is met.

Example of break Statement

    #include <iostream>

    int main() {
        for (int i = 1; i <= 5; i++) {
            if (i == 3) {
                break;
            }
            std::cout << "Iteration: " << i << std::endl;
        }
        return 0;
    }

In this example, the loop runs from 1 to 5, but when i reaches 3, the break statement is executed, causing the loop to terminate immediately. Only "Iteration: 1" and "Iteration: 2" are printed to the console.

2. The continue Statement

The continue statement skips the current iteration of the loop and moves to the next iteration. It does not terminate the loop but skips any code following it in the current iteration.

Example of continue Statement

    #include <iostream>

    int main() {
        for (int i = 1; i <= 5; i++) {
            if (i == 3) {
                continue;
            }
            std::cout << "Iteration: " << i << std::endl;
        }
        return 0;
    }

In this example, when i is 3, the continue statement is executed, skipping the rest of the code in that iteration. The loop moves to the next iteration, so "Iteration: 3" is not printed. The output will show iterations 1, 2, 4, and 5.

3. The goto Statement

The goto statement transfers control to a labeled statement within the same function. Although goto is generally discouraged due to its potential to make code difficult to follow, it can be useful in certain scenarios for quick jumps.

Syntax of goto Statement

    goto label_name;
    // Code
    label_name:
    // Code to jump to

Example of goto Statement

    #include <iostream>

    int main() {
        int i = 1;
        start:
        std::cout << "Iteration: " << i << std::endl;
        i++;
        if (i <= 3) {
            goto start;
        }
        return 0;
    }

In this example, the goto statement jumps to the start label, causing the program to print "Iteration: 1" and "Iteration: 2" as i increments. When i becomes 4, the condition fails, and the loop ends.

4. Conclusion

Jump statements provide control over loops and allow for specific actions such as exiting a loop (break), skipping an iteration (continue), or jumping to a specific code section (goto). Use them carefully, especially goto, as it can make code harder to understand. By understanding these statements, you can effectively manage loop behavior and program flow in C++.




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