Java Break Statement

When a break statement is encountered inside a loop, the loop is immediately terminated and the program control resumes at the next statement following the loop.

The Java break statement is used to break loop or switch statement. It breaks the current flow of the program at specified condition. In case of inner loop, it breaks only inner loop.

We can use Java break statement in all types of loops such as for loop, while loop and do-while loop.

Syntax

snippet

jump-statement;  
break;

Break Statement with Loop

Example

snippet

//Java Program to demonstrate the use of break statement  
//inside the for loop.
public class BreakExample {
public static void main(String[] args) {
    //using for loop
    for(int i=1;i<=10;i++){
    	if(i==5){
    	    //breaking the loop
    		break;
    	}
    	System.out.println(i);
    }
}
}

Output

1 2 3 4

Break Statement with Inner Loop

It breaks inner loop only if you use break statement inside the inner loop.

Example

snippet

//Java Program to illustrate the use of break statement  
//inside an inner loop 
public class BreakExample2 {
public static void main(String[] args) {
            //outer loop 
	        for(int i=1;i<=3;i++){  
	                //inner loop
	                for(int j=1;j<=3;j++){  
	                    if(i==2&&j==2){  
	                        //using break statement inside the inner loop
	                        break;  
	                    }  
	                    System.out.println(i+" "+j);  
	                }  
	        }  
}
}

Output

1 1 1 2 1 3 2 1 3 1 3 2 3 3

Break Statement with Labeled For Loop

We can use break statement with a label. This feature is introduced since JDK 1.5. So, we can break any loop in Java now whether it is outer loop or inner.

Example

snippet

//Java Program to illustrate the use of continue statement
//with label inside an inner loop to break outer loop
public class BreakExample3 {
public static void main(String[] args) {
            aa:
	        for(int i=1;i<=3;i++){  
	                bb:
	                for(int j=1;j<=3;j++){  
	                    if(i==2&&j==2){  
	                        //using break statement with label
	                        break aa;  
	                    }  
	                    System.out.println(i+" "+j);  
	                }  
	        }  
}
}

Output

1 1 1 2 1 3 2 1

Break Statement in while loop

Example

snippet

//Java Program to demonstrate the use of break statement
//inside the while loop.
public class BreakWhileExample {
public static void main(String[] args) {
    //while loop
    int i=1;
    while(i<=10){
        if(i==5){
    	    //using break statement
            i++;
    		break;//it will break the loop
    	}
    	System.out.println(i);
        i++;
    }
}
}

Output

1 2 3 4

Break Statement in do-while loop

Example

snippet

//Java Program to demonstrate the use of break statement
//inside the Java do-while loop.
public class BreakDoWhileExample {
public static void main(String[] args) {
    //declaring variable
    int i=1;
    //do-while loop
    do{
        if(i==5){
    	   //using break statement
           i++;
    	   break;//it will break the loop
    	}
    	System.out.println(i);
        i++;
    }while(i<=10);
}
}

Output

1 2 3 4

Break Statement with Switch

To understand the example of break with switch statement, please visit here: Java Switch Statement.