C++ - CONTINUE

Continue statement is used with the loops to skip a few lines of code below it.

Let us make it simple with the below example.

'Continue' with 'for loop'

Say we have a for loop that prints the numbers from 1, 2 and 3.

Example :

#include <iostream>
using namespace std;

int main() {
     	
    for(int x = 1; x <= 3 ; x++) 
    {
		cout << x << endl;
    }
    
    return 0;
}

Output :

1
2
3

Now, let's say, we don't want the number 2 to be printed. We just want to System.Console.WriteLine 1 and 3 as output.

Let us rewrite the program using continue statement.

Example :

#include <iostream>
using namespace std;

int main() {
     	
    for(int x = 1; x <= 3 ; x++) 
    {
        if (x == 2) 
        {
 			continue;
        }
		cout << x << endl;
    }
    
    return 0;
}

Output :

1
3

Now, if you see the output, 2 is omitted from the output, printing only 1 and 3 as output.

Let us see it in detail :

So, we have a for loop that prints the numbers from 1 to 3.

for(int x = 1; x <= 3 ; x++)
{
	if (x == 2)
	{
		continue;
	}
	cout << x << endl;
}

And the Iteration starts,

1st Iteration

In the 1st Iteration, 1 is taken and stored in the variable i.

So, in the next line, we check if the value of the variable i is 2 or not.

if (i == 2)
{
	continue;
}

In this case the value of i is 1. So, we do not enter the if block and come to the print statement.

cout << i << endl;

Printing the value of i.

Output :

Then we start the second Iteration of for loop.

2nd Iteration

In the 2nd Iteration, 2 is taken and stored in the variable i.

So, in the next line, we check if the value of the variable i is 2 or not.

if (i == 2)
{
	continue;
}

In this case the value of i is 2. So, we enter the if block and come to the continue statement.

continue;

And what the continue statement does is, ends the current Iteration of the for loop and starts the next Iteration.

And the value of i i.e. 2 is not printeded..

And the 3rd Iteration starts.

3rd Iteration

Similarly, in the 3rd Iteration, 3 is taken and stored in the variable i.

Same way, in the next line, we check if the value of the variable i is 2 or not.

if (i == 2) {
	continue;
}

In this case the value of i is 3. So, we do not enter the if block and come to the print statement.

cout << i << endl;

Printing the value of i.

Output :

1
3

With this we end the execution of for loop.

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