The “for loop” loops from one number to another number and increases by a specified value each time.
The “for loop” uses the following structure:
The “for loop” uses the following structure:
for (Start value; continue or end condition; increase value)
statement;
Look at the example below:
#include<stdio.h>
int main()
{
int i;
for (i = 0; i < 10; i++)
{
printf ("Hello\n");
printf ("World\n");
}
return 0;
}
Note: A single instruction can be placed behind the “for loop” without the curly brackets.
In the example we used i++ which is the same as using i = i + 1. This is called incrementing. The instruction i++ adds 1 to i. If you want to subtract 1 from i you can use i
--. It is also possible to use ++i or --i. The difference is is that with ++i (prefix incrementing) the one is added before the “for loop” tests if i < 10. With i++ (postfix incrementing) the one is added after the test i < 10. In case of a for loop this make no difference, but in while loop test it makes a difference. But before we look at a postfix and prefix increment while loop example, we first look at the while loop.The while loop
The while loop can be used if you don’t know how many times a loop must run. Here is an example:
#include<stdio.h>
int main()
{
int counter, howmuch;
scanf("%d", &howmuch);
counter = 0;
while ( counter < howmuch)
{
counter++;
printf("%d\n", counter);
}
return 0;
}
Let’s take a look at the example: First you must always initialize the counter before the while loop starts ( counter = 1). Then the while loop will run if the variable counter is smaller then the variable “howmuch”. If the input is ten, then 1 through 10 will be printed on the screen. A last thing you have to remember is to increment the counter inside the loop (counter++). If you forget this the loop becomes infinitive.
As said before (after the for loop example) it makes a difference if prefix incrementing (++i) or postfix incrementing (i++) is used with while loop. Take a look at the following postfix and prefix increment while loop example: