Break statement

C break statement

• The break statement in C language is used to break the execution of loop (while, do while and for) and switch case.
• In case of inner loops, it terminates the control of inner loop only.
• There can be two usage of C break keyword:

1. With switch case
2. With loop

Syntax:

1. jump-statement;  
2. break;  

The jump statement in c break syntax can be while loop, do while loop, for loop or switch case.

Flowchart of break in c

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Example of C break statement with loop

1. #include <stdio.h>    
2. #include <conio.h>    
3. void main(){    
4. int i=1;//initializing a local variable  
5. clrscr();    
6.  
7. //starting a loop from 1 to 10  
8. for(i=1;i<=10;i++){    
9. printf("%d \n",i);  
10. if(i==5){//if value of i is equal to 5, it will break the loop  
11. break;  
12. }  
13. }//end of for loop   
14. getch();    
15. }    

Output

1

2

3

4

5

As you can see on console output, loop from 1 to 10 is not printed after i==5.

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C break statement with inner loop

• In such case, it breaks only inner loop, but not outer loop.

1. #include <stdio.h>    
2. #include <conio.h>    
3. void main(){    
4. int i=1,j=1;//initializing a local variable  
5. clrscr();    
6.   
7. for(i=1;i<=3;i++){    
8. for(j=1;j<=3;j++){  
9. printf("%d &d\n",i,j);  
10. if(i==2 && j==2){  
11. break;//will break loop of j only  
12. }  
13. }  
14. }//end of for loop    
15. getch();    
16. }    

Output

1 1

1 2

1 3

2 1

2 2

3 1

3 2

3 3

• As you can see the output on console, 2 3 is not printed because there is break statement after printing i==2 and j==2. But 3 1, 3 2 and 3 3 is printed because break statement works for inner loop only.