A loop in C is a control flow statement that allows a block of code to be executed repeatedly until a specified condition is met. There are three types of loops in C programming: for loop, while loop, and do-while loop. Each type of loop has its own syntax and use cases.
-
For Loop: The for loop is an entry-controlled loop, meaning the test condition is checked before entering the main body of the loop. It allows programmers to execute a statement or group of statements multiple times without repetition of code. The syntax of a for loop is:
for (initialize expression; test expression; update expression) { // body of for loop }The initialization statement is executed only once, then the test expression is evaluated. If the test expression is true, the statements inside the body of the for loop are executed, and the update expression is updated. This process continues until the test expression is false.
-
While Loop: The while loop repeats a statement or group of statements while a given condition is true. It tests the condition before executing the loop body. The syntax of a while loop is:
while (condition) { // code }The code inside the while loop is executed as long as the condition is true.
-
Do-While Loop: The do-while loop is similar to the while loop, but the condition is checked after the execution of the loop body. This means that the loop will always execute at least once, even if the condition is initially false. The syntax of a do-while loop is:
do { // code } while (condition);The code inside the do-while loop is executed at least once, and then the condition is checked. If the condition is true, the loop continues to execute.
In summary, loops in C are essential for repeating a block of code until a specific condition is met, and they provide a way to avoid repetition of code and traverse elements of an array.
