break
statement (C++)
The break
statement ends execution of the nearest enclosing loop or conditional statement in which it appears. Control passes to the statement that follows the end of the statement, if any.
Syntax
break;
Remarks
The break
statement is used with the conditional switch
statement and with the do
, for
, and while
loop statements.
In a switch
statement, the break
statement causes the program to execute the next statement outside the switch
statement. Without a break
statement, every statement from the matched case
label to the end of the switch
statement, including the default
clause, is executed.
In loops, the break
statement ends execution of the nearest enclosing do
, for
, or while
statement. Control passes to the statement that follows the ended statement, if any.
Within nested statements, the break
statement ends only the do
, for
, switch
, or while
statement that immediately encloses it. You can use a return
or goto
statement to transfer control from more deeply nested structures.
Example
The following code shows how to use the break
statement in a for
loop.
#include <iostream>
using namespace std;
int main()
{
// An example of a standard for loop
for (int i = 1; i < 10; i++)
{
if (i == 4) {
break;
}
cout << i << '\n';
}
// An example of a range-based for loop
int nums []{1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10};
for (int i : nums) {
if (i == 4) {
break;
}
cout << i << '\n';
}
}
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The following code shows how to use break
in a while
loop and a do
loop.
#include <iostream>
using namespace std;
int main() {
int i = 0;
while (i < 10) {
if (i == 4) {
break;
}
cout << i << '\n';
i++;
}
i = 0;
do {
if (i == 4) {
break;
}
cout << i << '\n';
i++;
} while (i < 10);
}
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The following code shows how to use break
in a switch statement. You must use break
in every case if you want to handle each case separately; if you do not use break
, the code execution falls through to the next case.
#include <iostream>
using namespace std;
enum Suit{ Diamonds, Hearts, Clubs, Spades };
int main() {
Suit hand;
. . .
// Assume that some enum value is set for hand
// In this example, each case is handled separately
switch (hand)
{
case Diamonds:
cout << "got Diamonds \n";
break;
case Hearts:
cout << "got Hearts \n";
break;
case Clubs:
cout << "got Clubs \n";
break;
case Spades:
cout << "got Spades \n";
break;
default:
cout << "didn't get card \n";
}
// In this example, Diamonds and Hearts are handled one way, and
// Clubs, Spades, and the default value are handled another way
switch (hand)
{
case Diamonds:
case Hearts:
cout << "got a red card \n";
break;
case Clubs:
case Spades:
default:
cout << "didn't get a red card \n";
}
}