C

C Programming

Master the fundamentals of C programming with comprehensive tutorials, examples, and hands-on exercises

break and continue Statements

The break and continue statements provide additional control over loop execution. They allow you to exit loops early or skip specific iterations.

break Statement

The break statement immediately exits the current loop.

break Example
#include <stdio.h>

int main() {
    printf("Numbers from 1 to 10, but stop at 6:\n");
    
    for (int i = 1; i <= 10; i++) {
        if (i == 6) {
            break;  // Exit the loop when i equals 6
        }
        printf("%d ", i);
    }
    printf("\nLoop ended!\n");
    
    return 0;
}

continue Statement

The continue statement skips the rest of the current iteration and moves to the next iteration.

continue Example
#include <stdio.h>

int main() {
    printf("Odd numbers from 1 to 10:\n");
    
    for (int i = 1; i <= 10; i++) {
        if (i % 2 == 0) {
            continue;  // Skip even numbers
        }
        printf("%d ", i);
    }
    printf("\n");
    
    return 0;
}

Practical Example

Number Guessing Game
#include <stdio.h>

int main() {
    int secret = 7;
    int guess;
    int attempts = 0;
    int maxAttempts = 3;
    
    printf("Guess the number (1-10). You have %d attempts.\n", maxAttempts);
    
    while (attempts < maxAttempts) {
        printf("Enter your guess: ");
        scanf("%d", &guess);
        attempts++;
        
        if (guess < 1 || guess > 10) {
            printf("Please enter a number between 1 and 10.\n");
            attempts--;  // Don't count invalid input
            continue;
        }
        
        if (guess == secret) {
            printf("Congratulations! You guessed it in %d attempts!\n", attempts);
            break;  // Exit the loop on correct guess
        } else if (guess < secret) {
            printf("Too low! ");
        } else {
            printf("Too high! ");
        }
        
        printf("Attempts remaining: %d\n", maxAttempts - attempts);
    }
    
    if (attempts >= maxAttempts && guess != secret) {
        printf("Game over! The number was %d.\n", secret);
    }
    
    return 0;
}
Key Points
  • break: Completely exits the loop
  • continue: Skips to the next iteration
  • Both statements only affect the innermost loop they're in
  • Use them to make your code more efficient and readable

Frequently Asked Questions

C is a powerful, general-purpose programming language that's been around since the 1970s. It's the foundation for many modern languages and is essential for system programming, embedded systems, and understanding how computers work at a low level. Learning C gives you a solid foundation in programming fundamentals.

No prior programming experience is required! Our C programming tutorial is designed for complete beginners. We start with the basics and gradually progress to more advanced topics. However, having some basic computer literacy and logical thinking skills will be helpful.

You need a C compiler to run C programs. For beginners, we recommend using our online C compiler which requires no installation. For local development, you can use GCC (GNU Compiler Collection) which is available on Windows (via MinGW), macOS (via Xcode), and Linux. IDEs like Code::Blocks, Dev-C++, or Visual Studio Code are also helpful.

The time to learn C depends on your dedication and prior experience. With consistent practice (1-2 hours daily), you can grasp the basics in 2-4 weeks and become proficient in 2-3 months. Mastering advanced concepts like pointers, memory management, and data structures may take 6-12 months of regular practice.

C programming skills open doors to various career paths including system programming, embedded systems development, operating system development, device driver programming, game development, and firmware development. Many companies in automotive, aerospace, telecommunications, and IoT sectors actively seek C programmers.

Absolutely! C remains highly relevant and is consistently ranked among the top programming languages. It's essential for system programming, embedded systems, IoT devices, and performance-critical applications. Many modern languages are built on C, and understanding C helps you become a better programmer overall.