Looping statements

Hello there! Today, we’re going to dive into the fascinating world of looping statements in Java. Imagine you have a bag of candies, and you want to eat each candy one by one. Instead of picking each candy individually, you can use a loop to help you eat them all without repeating the same actions over and over. That’s what looping statements in Java do – they allow you to repeat a set of instructions multiple times.

The Basics of Loops

In Java, there are three main types of loops: for, while, and do-while. Each loop has its own special way of helping you repeat tasks.

The For Loop

Let’s start with the for loop. Imagine you have a box of chocolates, and you want to eat each chocolate one at a time. Here’s how you could do it in Java:

for (int i = 1; i <= 10; i++) {
    System.out.println("Eating chocolate number " + i);
}

In this example:

• int i = 1: This is where we start counting the chocolates. We begin with the first chocolate.
• i <= 10: This is the condition that tells the loop to continue as long as i is less than or equal to 10.
• i++: After each chocolate, we increase i by 1, moving on to the next chocolate.

The While Loop

Now, let’s explore the while loop. Imagine you have a bag of gummy bears, and you want to eat them until the bag is empty:

int gummyBears = 5;

while (gummyBears > 0) {
    System.out.println("Eating a gummy bear!");
    gummyBears--;
}

Here:

• gummyBears > 0: This is the condition that tells the loop to continue as long as there are gummy bears left in the bag.
• gummyBears--: After eating each gummy bear, we decrease the count by 1.

The Do-While Loop

Last but not least, let’s talk about the do-while loop. Imagine you have a jar of cookies, and you want to eat them at least once, no matter what:

int cookies = 0;

do {
    System.out.println("Eating a cookie!");
    cookies++;
} while (cookies > 0);

Here:

• do { /* ... */ }: This is where we specify the actions to be performed.
• while (cookies > 0): This is the condition. Even though it seems like the cookies will never be eaten, the loop runs at least once because the condition is checked after the actions are performed.

When to Use Which Loop?

• Use a for loop when you know in advance how many times you want to repeat an action.
• Use a while loop when you want to repeat an action as long as a certain condition is true.
• Use a do-while loop when you want to ensure that the actions are performed at least once, regardless of the initial condition.

Looping statements in Java are like magic spells that let you perform the same set of actions repeatedly without getting tired. Whether you’re eating candies, gummy bears, or cookies, loops are your best friends in making your code efficient and less repetitive.

Happy coding! 🚀