Looping statements in CPP

Looping statements in C++ allow you to repeat a block of code multiple times based on a condition. There are three main types of loops in C++: for, while, and do-while. Each serves a specific purpose and is useful in different scenarios.

Let’s explore each of these loops with explanations and real-life examples in code.

for Loop

The for loop is used when you know exactly how many times you want to repeat a block of code. It consists of three main parts:

• Initialization: Set the starting value of the loop variable.
• Condition: Define the condition for the loop to continue.
• Update: Update the loop variable after each iteration.

Syntax:

Real-Life Example: Printing the numbers 1 through 5.

In this example, the loop starts at i = 1 and continues while i <= 5. Each time, it prints the value of i and then increments i by 1.

while Loop

The while loop is useful when you don’t know the exact number of iterations in advance, but you want to repeat a block of code as long as a specific condition is true.

Syntax:

Real-Life Example: Counting down to a launch.

In this code, the loop continues as long as countdown is greater than 0. Each iteration, it prints the countdown number and then decrements it by 1. When countdown reaches 0, the loop exits, and "Liftoff!" is printed.

do-while Loop

The do-while loop is similar to the while loop, but it guarantees that the code block executes at least once. This is because the condition is checked after the code block has executed.

Syntax:

Real-Life Example: Asking a user to enter a password until they get it right.

In this code, the do-while loop prompts the user to enter a password. Even if the password is correct on the first try, the loop runs at least once. If the password is incorrect, the loop repeats until the correct password is entered.

Nested Loops

You can also place one loop inside another, which is known as nesting. Nested loops are useful for tasks that involve working with multi-dimensional data, such as printing a table.

Real-Life Example: Printing a 3x3 grid.

This code prints coordinates for a 3x3 grid, with each row printed on a new line. The inner loop completes all its iterations for each single iteration of the outer loop.

Infinite Loops

An infinite loop is a loop that never ends because the condition is always true. These loops are useful for tasks that need to run continuously until a specific condition occurs, like waiting for user input or monitoring a sensor.

Example: Running a basic server continuously (hypothetically).

In this example, the while (true) loop creates an infinite loop that simulates a continuously running server. This loop will keep printing "Server is running..." indefinitely unless manually stopped.