🟡 Control Flow · Lesson 20

break and continue Statements

What is break and continue Statements?

break and continue Statements
break stops a loop immediately. continue skips the current iteration and moves to the next iteration.

Level
🟡 Control Flow and Core Programming

Example File
break-continue.cpp

Main Focus
Concept + syntax + practical C++ program

Why should you learn this?

It helps you write correct and readable C++ programs.
It is used repeatedly in school practicals, projects and competitive programming.
It builds the base for advanced topics such as OOP, STL and data structures.

Important Terms

Term	Meaning / Use
break	Break used in break and continue Statements programming.
continue	Continue used in break and continue Statements programming.
loop control	Loop control used in break and continue Statements programming.
skip	Skip used in break and continue Statements programming.
terminate	Terminate used in break and continue Statements programming.

Syntax / Pattern

break; and continue;

Example Program

#include <iostream>
using namespace std;
int main(){
    for(int i=1; i<=5; i++){
        if(i == 3) continue;
        cout << i << " ";
    }
    return 0;
}

Expected Output

1 2 4 5

Program Explanation

When i is 3, continue skips printing.
Loop continues with i = 4.

Exam Tip: In C++ practical answers, write the logic first, then the program, then expected output. For theory, always include one suitable example.

Where will you use it?

search operations
input validation
filtering values

Common Mistakes

Using break where continue is needed.
Creating unreachable code after break.

Practice Tasks

Stop loop when number is 0.
Print numbers 1-10 except multiples of 3.

Summary

break and continue Statements is an important C++ topic. Learn the definition, understand the syntax, run the example program and then solve the practice tasks to make the concept strong.