for loop in Java

Generally each line of code in a program executed only once. Sometime we come to a situation where in we want to repeat the execution of one or more line of code more than once. To address such requirements java provides looping statements. The looping statements are special symbols which asks the computer to repeat the execution of instructions written inside these statements as far as a given condition is true. Java provides below looping statements to repeat the execution of statements in a program.

• for loop
• while loop
• do while loop

For an example let us imagine, we have to print digits from 1 to 10, one approach could be, we can write a program which includes 10 print statements, but what about if you need to print digits from 1 to 100 or more ?. Java looping statements can help you to accomplish the same in an easy way. Java for loop can be used to repeat execution of statements for a fixed number of times or till a condition is true. The basic syntax of for loop is :

 for(initialization; condition; increment/decrement)
   {
     // code to be executed inside for loop
   }

Everything given inside () after for loop are optional expressions which performs specific tasks. Initialization expression is used to initialize variables, objects etc. for example int i = 0, int count=10 etc. Condition expression is used to test the condition, for example i<=10, count>0 etc. Increment/decrement expression is used to change in variable or object value, for example i++, count-- etc. Everything that comes inside matching curly brackets {} after for keyword is the part of for statement which is also called as for block or for loop body.

How for loop works

1. Initialization expression is the first expression which get's executed as the loop begins and it is executed only once.
2. Then condition expression is evaluated, it's a boolean expression which returns either true or false.
3. If the condition expression returns as true,
   • Statements inside the body of for loop is executed.
   • Then the increment/decrement expression is executed.
   • Again, the condition expression is evaluated. If it returns as true, again the statements inside the body of for loop is executed and then increment/decrement expression is executed. This process goes on until the condition expression returns as false.
4. If the condition expression returns as false, for loop terminates.

Control flow diagram of for loop

for loop program in Java

 class ForLoop
   {
     public static void main(String [] args)
        {          
           for(int num=1; num<=10; num++)
            {
              System.out.println(num);
            }  
            System.out.println("After the end of for loop");                   
         }
   }

Output:

Infinite for loop

What if the condition expression written in for loop statement always returns as true, the body of for loop will keep executing, this is basically called as infinite for loop.

 class InfiniteForLoop
   {
     public static void main(String [] args)
        {          
           for(int num=1; num>0; num++)
            {
              System.out.println(num);
            }                     
         }
   }

In above program, num>0 will always return true since num is increasing in every iteration. So for loop will keep executing infinite number of times. If you are running this program inside command prompt, just press ctrl + c to exit from execution.

In for loop syntax, all the expressions are optional, programmer can leave all of them as blank. If all of them leaved as blank, this again becomes infinite for loop.

 for( ; ; )
    {
     // code to be executed inside for loop
    }