C++ continue Keyword

The continue keyword in C++ is used to skip the current iteration of a loop and proceed to the next iteration. It is commonly used in for, while, and do-while loops to bypass the remaining code in the loop body for the current iteration when a specific condition is met.

Using continue helps manage control flow more effectively by selectively skipping certain iterations while continuing the overall loop execution.

Syntax

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loop {
    if (condition) {
        continue;
    }
    // Code to execute if the condition is false
}

loop: Any loop structure like for, while, or do-while.
condition: The condition that determines whether to skip the rest of the current iteration.
continue: The keyword that causes the loop to skip to the next iteration.

Examples

Example 1: Skipping Even Numbers in a `for` Loop

This example demonstrates using continue to skip even numbers in a for loop.

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#include <iostream>
using namespace std;

int main() {
    for (int i = 1; i <= 10; ++i) {
        if (i % 2 == 0) {
            continue; // Skip even numbers
        }
        cout << i << " ";
    }
    return 0;
}

Output:

1 3 5 7 9

Explanation:

The loop iterates from 1 to 10.
If the current number i is even (i % 2 == 0), the continue statement is executed, skipping the remaining code for that iteration.
As a result, only odd numbers are printed to the console.

Example 2: Skipping Specific Values in a `while` Loop

This example shows how to use continue in a while loop to skip specific values.

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#include <iostream>
using namespace std;

int main() {
    int i = 0;
    while (i < 10) {
        ++i;
        if (i == 5 || i == 7) {
            continue; // Skip 5 and 7
        }
        cout << i << " ";
    }
    return 0;
}

Output:

1 2 3 4 6 8 9 10

Explanation:

The while loop iterates from 1 to 10.
If i equals 5 or 7, the continue statement is executed, skipping the current iteration.
All other numbers are printed, except 5 and 7.

Example 3: Using `continue` in a `do-while` Loop

This example demonstrates how to use continue in a do-while loop to skip specific iterations.

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#include <iostream>
using namespace std;

int main() {
    int i = 0;
    do {
        ++i;
        if (i % 3 == 0) {
            continue; // Skip multiples of 3
        }
        cout << i << " ";
    } while (i < 10);
    return 0;
}

Output:

1 2 4 5 7 8 10

Explanation:

The do-while loop iterates from 1 to 10.
If i is a multiple of 3, the continue statement skips the current iteration.
All numbers that are not multiples of 3 are printed to the console.

Key Points about `continue` Keyword

The continue keyword skips the rest of the loop body for the current iteration and moves to the next iteration.
It can be used in for, while, and do-while loops.
It is useful for selectively skipping iterations based on specific conditions.
Using continue improves readability and control flow in loops where certain conditions require bypassing further execution.

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C++ continue Keyword